H.R. 5753: Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2025

The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2025 proposes changes to the reimbursement rates for school meals under two major federal programs: the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act. The main objectives of the bill include:

Increased Reimbursement for School Meals

The bill aims to provide additional financial support to school food authorities, giving them higher reimbursement rates for the meals they serve to students. These adjustments are intended to help schools provide healthier meals and ensure that all students have access to nutritious food.

Specific Changes Proposed

• School Lunch Reimbursement Increase:
  • Starting from November 1, 2025, schools will receive an extra 45 cents for each lunch served.
  • This amount will be subject to adjustments based on specific criteria starting on July 1, 2026.
• School Breakfast Reimbursement Increase:
  • Beginning on November 1, 2025, every free or reduced-price breakfast, as well as breakfasts served to children not eligible for these programs, will receive an additional 28 cents.
  • This amount will also be adjusted beginning on July 1, 2026, based on established criteria.

Goals of the Bill

The overall intention behind these increases is to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals and support children’s learning by ensuring they have access to healthy food options during school hours. By providing more financial resources to school food programs, the bill aims to address food insecurity and improve students' overall health and academic performance.

Implementation Timeline

Key dates included in the bill are:

• November 1, 2025 - Date when the increased reimbursement rates would begin.
• July 1, 2026 - Date when these reimbursement amounts will be adjusted in accordance with set guidelines.

Administration and Oversight

The bill falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the administration of the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act. This means that the proposed reimbursement changes will be managed as part of the federal government’s efforts to improve child nutrition programs.

Expected Outcomes

By increasing meal reimbursements, the bill seeks to:

• Enhance the nutritional standards of meals provided in schools.
• Allow schools to invest in healthier ingredients and better meal preparation practices.
• Mitigate food insecurity among students, particularly those from low-income families.

Relevant Companies

• KR (Kroger) - Kroger could see an increase in demand for food products as schools adjust to new guidelines around meal provisions.
• PEP (PepsiCo) - PepsiCo may benefit from increased sales of beverages and snacks that align with school nutrition policies.
• DOM (Domino's Pizza) - Domino's could potentially be impacted if schools consider pizza as part of their meal offerings, depending on nutritional guidelines.