Did the New School Meal Standards Improve the Overall Quality of Children's Diets?

School meal programs represent the second largest form of food assistance in the United States. Schools receive federal reimbursements, totaling $17 billion in 2018, provided they meet certain nutritional standards. The Healthy Hunger‐Free Kids Act (HHFKA) updated these standards beginning with 2012–2013 school year. We document the impact of consuming school‐prepared food, rather than home‐prepared food, on diet quality pre‐ and postpolicy...