Across America, food policy too often assumes that some people need to be protected from their own choices. But the real path to healthier communities lies not in restriction, but in empowerment—through access, education, and respect for people’s ability to make good decisions when given real options.

School cafeterias are changing fast in 2025, with new USDA rules reducing added sugar and sodium for the first time. But funding gaps, packed lunch myths, and private vs. public school differences still complicate how kids eat. Here’s what parents need to know to keep nutrition simple, affordable, and appealing this school year.