Until Tuesday I knew hardly anything about Tim Walz.
And like so many others who watched the rally in Philadelphia, I learned a lot about the governor of Minnesota. He grew up on a farm in Nebraska. He served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades. He taught social studies, coached high school football and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
What caught my eye, however, was this: Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, signed a law guaranteeing free breakfast and lunch to students in his state regardless of income. The law went into effect last school year. At the time, Minnesota was the fourth state in the U.S. to offer free school meals to all; since then, the number has risen to eight.
Hawaii is not one of them.
Last year, HB 540 was introduced to provide free meals for all at all public and charter schools beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, but the Board of Education has postponed the measure.
I hope it happens.
The idea is simple: all children have access to free public education. Why not food too?
A recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the child poverty rate rose from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2022. This is partly due to the end of certain pandemic-era programs, including a temporary increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Federal school meal waivers also expired in 2022.
Offering free meals to all public school students, regardless of family income, can help in many ways.
According to the Hawaii Hunger Action Network, free school meals are “a lifeline for Hawaii’s struggling families.” In 2021, Hawaii had the second-highest food insecurity rate in the country, at about 25%.
To qualify for free meals in public schools, a family of four must earn less than $46,644 per year. To qualify for reduced-price meals, a family would need to earn less than $66,378 per year.
But according to HHAN, the household budget for a family of four is more than $90,000. If you ignore income – and all the hassle of submitting and reviewing applications – everyone benefits.
We all know that nutritious meals are important for children’s physical and mental development. Research shows that children who receive meals and snacks from their daycare have a higher chance of food security and enjoy better health. And children who are not hungry perform better in school.
According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one of the largest and most comprehensive children’s hospitals and research institutes in the United States, healthy nutrition in children contributes to stable energy, strong bones and teeth, and improved mental health. It is also important in preventing chronic diseases – people living below the federal poverty line have a higher incidence of chronic diseases compared to people with higher incomes.
The key, however, lies in nutrition.
The state has already taken steps to help low-income families access more nutritious food through participation in the federal Double Up Food Bucks program, known locally as Da Bux. The program provides SNAP recipients with a Da Bux Access Card or voucher that allows them to cut the price of locally grown produce in half at participating grocery stores and farmers markets. It gives them a financial incentive to buy local fruits and vegetables. (Bonus: Local farmers benefit, too.)
Children should not worry about their socioeconomic status at school. They already have enough other things to worry about.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity rates among children ages 5 to 19 in the United States have increased dramatically, from just 8 percent in 1990 to 20 percent in 2022. This is due in part to sedentary lifestyles and poor diet.
By offering free meals to all students, children are also freed from the shame and stigma they feel.
Eating is a social experience. We meet with friends after work for pau hana pupus and drinks. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries with food. We eat together at soccer games and beach trips. It’s certainly the same at school – and if every child can eat lunch at school, every child can share in that social experience.
In many ways, a universal free lunch program helps even the books. Children shouldn’t have to worry about their socioeconomic status in school. They have enough other things to worry about.
