The National School Lunch Program was established in 1946. It is a federally funded program which feeds more than 28 million children every school day. For some, this lunch is their most nutritious meal of the day. Kids who eat nutritious meals perform better in all aspects of their lives. The school lunch nutrition is based on mandated government guidelines for nutrients, calories, fat and protein. The National School Lunch Program is the largest federal child nutrition program and the second-largest single source of funding for elementary and secondary schools.