Reach of Congregate vs. Grab-and-Go Summer Meals in New York City: A Natural Experiment with Policy Implications and Recommendations

Abstract Participation in school meals is associated with many benefits. However, participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is low due to many barriers, including program requirements such as congregate feeding. During COVID-19, these requirements were waived, allowing grab-and-go meals. The purpose of this study is to compare the number of SFSP meals served during the two summers of grab-and-go meals (summers 2020 and 2021) to six prior summers of congregate feeding (summers 2014-2019) in New York City (NYC). This study is an ecological study of NYC public school geographic districts (n = 32). The primary outcome is the total number of SFSP meals served per student. Using the repeated-measures ANOVA, the results show a significant increase in the number of SFSP meals served per student during the first summer (2020) of grab-and-go meals compared to summers 2016-2019 (p ≤ 0.01) but no significant differences during the second summer (2021) of grab-and-go meals compared to summers 2014-2019. However, there was a significant increase in the number of breakfast meals served in August per student during both the first and second summer of grab-and-go meals compared to summers 2014-2019 (p < 0.05). Among NYC public schools, the waivers may increase the reach of breakfast meals served in August, when there are fewer summer school activities. However, there is a need for an experimental study to establish potential causal relationships. Policymakers may consider making waivers that allow grab-and-go meals permanent flexibilities for the SFSP to increase access to summer meals.