5 Ways School Meals Can Address Picky Eating

Many school age children elementary ages through high school have difficulties with being ‘picky’ eaters. How do we overcome these hurdles to picky eating? School can be a great place for students to try new foods and it is a unique setting to do so. 

1. Menu Diversity

Most schools, including the Academy, has a rotating menu in which students are exposed to about 10 different menu options throughout the entire semester. Each item exposes students to a new flavor profile and set of ingredients along with many different fruit and vegetables. We are required to meet minimums in regards to types of vegetables. We are not permitted to just serve 1 or 2 types of vegetables all week but instead have to ensure everything from dark greens to legumes are represented each week. This ensures students are exposed to a variety of nutrients and types of foods, which over time allows them to expand their palate. 

2. Positive Peer Pressure

When students see other students positively receiving items and they are more likely to try out those foods. At times picky eating can become a battle of the wills between parent and the child. Students sometimes just need a change in setting! When they are in the cafeteria surrounded by other students eating school lunch they let their guard down and will even eat new foods because they see other students doing so. 

3. Try it and Try it Again

In the long term eating school meals will allow the student greater growth in terms of what they are willing to eat. Though they may start out not eating much or only trying a few items over time students begin to adapt and grow. The change will take time, but even a bite of a new item is a huge win for students who are struggling. It takes at least 15-20 times of trying a new item for children to adapt or start liking a new food, the repetition will take time but will pay off in the long term. The school menu allows for some repetition but enough diversity that the student doesn’t feel they are eating the same thing everyday. 

4. Resolves Decision Fatigue

Packing lunches can be a challenge, school lunches take away the fatigue that comes in trying to meal plan and ensure your student is being pushed to try new things. School meals can benefit picky eaters ensuring that your student doesn’t get in a rut of only asking for or eating certain items. Though packed lunches can have some diversity over time it can be difficult to keep up with what your student should be eating or fight them when it comes to what they want you as the parent to pack.

5. Empowers Your Student

The lunch line can become a time for your student feel empowered to make some decisions on their own. Meal times are often a time when students have small choices to make, which vegetables they want, which sauces to choose, etc. These moments allow the student feel empowered to make decisions and yet still receive a healthy meal. 


School meals can truly support you, as the parent, in your journey to teaching your child to eat nutritious food. Though it is not always an easy route over time, students can and will adapt, learn and grow which is exactly what they are at school to do, whether in the classroom or at meal time.