School Nutrition Association

School Nutrition Association 30 million students eat school meals every school day. The people behind those meals rarely get credit. We're here to make sure they do.

Vision: Every student has access to nutritious meals at school, ensuring their optimal health and well-being. Mission: We empower and support school nutrition professionals in advancing the accessibility, quality and integrity of school nutrition programs.

During National School Lunch Week, we’re celebrating the people who make school meals happen, and the ones who speak up ...
10/14/2026

During National School Lunch Week, we’re celebrating the people who make school meals happen, and the ones who speak up for them too 🎪

Thank you to Chris Derico, Travis Austin and everyone at this West Virginia roundtable for making sure school nutrition has a voice in the room!

We’ve been seeing all of your fun and adorable pictures of your staff and students celebrating already, and every sing...
10/13/2026

We’ve been seeing all of your fun and adorable pictures of your staff and students celebrating already, and every single one is a reminder of why this week matters 🎪
 
The National School Lunch Program was created to make sure children from low-income families who might not otherwise have a daily meal could get one. Today, it serves nearly 30 million kids every school day, helps students show up ready to learn and supports American agriculture along the way.
 
None of that happens without school nutrition professionals like you. This week is a celebration of the vital role you play in making meals possible for students every day.
 
If your school is participating this week, make sure you tag us and add for a chance to get noticed! 📸

We’re so proud to see SNA featured in Joanna Pineda’s new book, When It Mattered Most! Chapter 1 honors the incredible s...
10/09/2026

We’re so proud to see SNA featured in Joanna Pineda’s new book, When It Mattered Most! Chapter 1 honors the incredible school nutrition heroes who stepped up to feed students during the pandemic.

It all started back in March 2023, when author Joanna Pineda hosted our CEO, Patti Montague, on her podcast.

"I’m deeply honored that SNA and our members are highlighted in Joanna's book," says Patti. "Joanne’s decision to write this after our podcast conversation is such a powerful tribute to the tireless work of school nutrition professionals."

Thank you to every member who kept showing up! This recognition is all yours.

Every school nutrition professional has a story about where their love of food started. For many, it began long before t...
10/08/2026

Every school nutrition professional has a story about where their love of food started. For many, it began long before the cafeteria, at a family table, in a childhood kitchen, with a recipe passed down by someone who taught them that a meal is never just a meal.
 
In our September/October issue, we asked a few members to share how their traditions and family recipes have shaped how they cook, and care, for the students they serve today. Swipe through to read how their upbringing has shaped how they show up in their work.
 
Is there a food you grew up with that you’ve incorporated into your school lunch menus? We’d love to hear them!
 
📖 Read the full feature in the September/October issue of School Nutrition at the link in our bio.

10/06/2026

“Our food costs for this school lunch is approximately 30 to 50% higher than last year.”

Thank you, Jeanne Reilly, for showing what rising food costs actually look like for your cafeteria!

This is exactly why SNA is asking federal leaders to act. Federal reimbursement hasn’t kept pace with the real cost of serving a meal, and directors like Jeanne are the ones absorbing the gap every single day.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Congressman Jared Golden and Angus King this is what it looks like on the ground in Maine.

10/02/2026

This is the reality behind the push for more scratch cooking in schools: the ambition is there, but the infrastructure often isn't.

This Connecticut school is a clear example of what school nutrition professionals have been saying for years. Scratch cooking takes more than willingness. It takes equipment, space, staffing and funding that many programs simply don't have.

This is exactly the gap SNA is currently raising with federal leaders: new standards and bigger goals won't mean much without the resources to actually meet them.

Help us get emergency funding released for school meals and contact your members of congress today: https://schoolnutrition.quorum.us/campaign/169720/

School meals sometimes get a bad rap, but the truth is, they’re a critical part of schools. With nutrition standards, fo...
09/30/2026

School meals sometimes get a bad rap, but the truth is, they’re a critical part of schools.
 
With nutrition standards, food safety requirements, tight budgets, staffing shortages, procurement challenges, thousands of student preferences, the list goes on. Even with many roadblocks, school nutrition workers still make sure lunch still gets served every day, and that deserves some respect 👏

Last week, we let you know that SNA is urging for the release of Section 32 funds for school meal programs. We know poli...
09/26/2026

Last week, we let you know that SNA is urging for the release of Section 32 funds for school meal programs. 

We know policies and programs can be a lot to digest, so we wanted to give you a breakdown of how this all works. SNA has asked USDA to release Section 32 funds for emergency support starting in Fiscal Year 2027.

Every voice helps demonstrate the urgent need for relief. Help us make this happen by taking a couple minutes to ask your Members of Congress to urge OMB Director Vought and USDA Secretary Rollins to release these funds at the link in our bio 🔗

In your message, tell them how rising costs are affecting your own program and show federal leaders exactly what’s at stake in their communities.

School nutrition professionals keep our schools running. They create routines, build trust and show up every single day ...
09/25/2026

School nutrition professionals keep our schools running. They create routines, build trust and show up every single day to feed the students who depend on them, often before the first bell and long after the last one. From cooks and cafeteria managers to servers, dishwashers and directors, these are the people who power one of the most essential parts of a child’s school day.
 
This is a profession that shapes more than meals, it shapes whether a student can focus, learn, and thrive. It deserves to be recognized. On , we’re joining the country in celebrating the people who make school nutrition possible, every day, for every student.
 
Tag a school nutritional worker you know in the comments and help recognize them today 💜

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Arlington, VA

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