Minnesota schools served 1 million more lunches in first month of universal free meals

Catch up fast: The new law, passed by the DFL-majority Legislature last year, provides no-cost breakfast and lunch to Minnesota's 800,000-plus students, regardless of their family's income.

• Supporters say the program, modeled after a pandemic-era federal benefit that expired in 2022, will address food insecurity and make life easier for parents.

State of the lunch line: Interest in the program has been higher than anticipated. A fiscal impact analysis conducted last year projected a 4% increase in meals served for the entire school year.

• But school districts served 1 million more lunches in September alone, an increase of 11% over the same period in 2022. Breakfasts were up 31%.

The catch: The demand, plus higher-than-anticipated food reimbursement rates, mean the program is expected to cost the state $80 million more than planned in its first two years.

• That's prompted some Republican lawmakers to question whether the state should be extending free lunch to wealthy families on the taxpayer's dime.

The other side: Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Wednesday that he thinks the extra money is worth it to ensure all kids can eat without stigma.

• "Children learn best when their stomachs are full," he said.