99
Districts recognized
127
Awards granted
Jun–Aug 2024
Award period

CHICAGO, October 7, 2024 — Action for Healthy Kids and USDA's Food and Nutrition Service today announced that 99 school districts received 127 Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition Awards across June, July, and August 2024 for nutritional improvements to their school meal programs. Details and a map of recipients are available on the Awardee Spotlight page.

This is the largest single round to date — three times the size of the preceding quarter — and the spread across Trailblazer and Innovation categories reflects the range of approaches districts are taking.

Breakfast Trailblazer

Small and/or Rural School Food Authority Breakfast Trailblazer

Lunch Trailblazer

Small and/or Rural School Food Authority Lunch Trailblazer

Innovative School Lunch Makeover

Innovation in the Cultural Diversity of School Meals

Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals

Innovation in Nutrition Education

The rural story "The progress being made in small and/or rural school districts is unprecedented, and we needed a national Recognition Awards program to match that level of commitment," said Rob Bisceglie, Executive Officer and President of Action for Healthy Kids. "We are happy to celebrate the staff who dedicate their days to preparing fresh, nutritious, and delicious meals for their students."

"The Recognition Awards highlight the progress our schools are making in improving the quality of school breakfast and lunch," said Cindy Long, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. "We're seeing incredible efforts and innovative accomplishments by school nutrition professionals, as they provide their students with healthy, nutritious meals."

How to apply

The Recognition Awards application is available on the HMI website. Districts participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program in any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Ready to apply?

Start with the criteria document for your award category.

Read the guide

About the partners

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through 16 nutrition assistance programs, including the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC, and SNAP.

Action for Healthy Kids is a national nonprofit focused on improving children's health and well-being. The organization has reached more than 20 million children across 55,000 schools nationwide.