**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SCHOOL MEALS OFFER AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE STUDENT FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION OUTCOMES AND TO MINIMIZE FOOD AND PACKAGING WASTE TO FACILITATE BOTH HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. NATIONALLY THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF SCHOOL MEALS HAS IMPROVED, BUT STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN THE LUNCH PROGRAM IS DECLINING AND HIGH LEVELS OF WASTE PERSIST. A LARGE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICT AIMS TO REVERSE THESE TRENDS BY TRANSITIONING FROM PRE-PACKAGED REHEATED MEALS TO FRESH, LOCALLY-PREPARED MEALS SERVED USING MORE REUSABLE SERVICEWARE. BY LEVERAGING BASELINE DATA COLLECTED FROM A PRIOR AFRI-FUNDED SCHOOL DINING REDESIGN, WE AIM TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH REDESIGN ON STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND INTAKE OF SCHOOL MEALS. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WILL PROVIDE STAKEHOLDER EDUCATION AND PROMOTION OF THE SCHOOL MEAL REDESIGN FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND STAFF. USING A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL PRE-POST DESIGN, 10 MIDDLE/HIGH AND ELEMENTARY INTERVENTION SCHOOLS WILL BE COMPARED TO 10 CONTROL SCHOOLS OVER 3 YEARS. WE WILL TRACK STUDENT LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PARTICIPATION, AND ASSESS PLATE WASTE TO ESTIMATE STUDENT INTAKES, PACKAGING WASTE TO ESTIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND FOODSERVICE COSTS TO DOCUMENT FINANCIAL IMPACTS. STUDENT SURVEYS AND STUDENT/PARENT FOCUS GROUPS WILL PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR OTHER QUANTITATIVE RESULTS. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT MEAL APPEAL, STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND INTAKE OF SCHOOL MEALS WILL INCREASE, STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY AND FOOD AND PACKAGING WASTE WILL DECREASE, AND AFTER AN INITIAL INVESTMENT, FOODSERVICE COSTS WILL BE STABLE OR DECREASE. FINDINGS WILL BE DISSEMINATED IN PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND A TOOLKIT TO INFORM OTHER DISTRICTS ABOUT COSTS AND BENEFITS TO IMPROVING SCHOOL MEALS.