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The Effect of Free School Meals on Household Food Purchases: Evidence from the Community Eligibility Provision

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  • Michelle M. Marcus
  • Katherine G. Yewell

Abstract

We find access to universal free school meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) had a meaningful impact on grocery spending for households with children, with monthly food purchases declining by about $11, or 5 percent. For households in zip codes with higher exposure, the decline is as high as $39 per month, or 19 percent. The composition of food purchases also changes after CEP, with low income households experiencing a 3 percent improvement in dietary quality. Finally, CEP exposure is associated with an almost 5 percent decline in households classified as food insecure. Our results on the heterogeneous effects of CEP exposure by prior free/reduced price lunch eligibility reveal benefits in terms of both spending, dietary composition, and food insecurity for previously eligible low-income families, suggesting that the stigma of free school meals may be declining after universal access.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle M. Marcus & Katherine G. Yewell, 2021. "The Effect of Free School Meals on Household Food Purchases: Evidence from the Community Eligibility Provision," NBER Working Papers 29395, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29395
    Note: CH ED EH PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Vivian, 2025. "Free food for thought: The effect of universal free school meals on graduation rates in the US," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    2. Kashyap, Pratyoosh & Jablonski, Becca B. R., 2023. "Diffusion of Universal Free School Meals in the United States: Examining Factors Influencing Adoption of Community Eligibility Provision," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335700, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Kim, Yoonjung, 2025. "The effects of universal free lunch provision on student achievement: Evidence from South Korea," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    4. Brown, Alyssa, 2024. "Who takes up a free lunch? Summer Food Service Program availability and household grocery food spending," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    5. Pratyoosh Kashyap & Becca B. R. Jablonski, 2025. "Universal free school meals: Examining factors influencing adoption of the Community Eligibility Provision," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(1), pages 199-216, March.
    6. Bonomo, Therese & Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore, 2024. "Trends in the school lunch program: Changes in selection, nutrition & health," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    7. repec:ags:aaea22:335700 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Agossadou, Arsene & Valizadeh, Pourya & Nayga Jr., Rodolfo & Fischer, Bart, 2025. "SNAP Recipients' Food Shopping Behavior under Unexpected Benefit Disbursement," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360895, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Borbely, Daniel & Gehrsitz, Markus & McIntyre, Stuart & Rossi, Gennaro, 2024. "Does the provision of universal free school meals improve school attendance?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Toossi, Saied, 2024. "The effect of universal free school meals on children’s food hardship," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    11. Ruffini, Krista & Öztürk, Orgül & Pekgün, Pelin, 2025. "In-kind government assistance and crowd-out of charitable services: Evidence from free school meals," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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