** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GUIDED BY THE PRESSING NEED TO ENSURE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, RECENT REFORMS SIGNAL A PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE DESIGN OF SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS, TRANSITIONING TOWARDS A LOCATION-BASED ASSISTANCE MODEL, AIMING TO MAKE SCHOOL MEALS FREE TO ALL ENROLLED CHILDREN. UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS (UFSM) HAVE EXPANDED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION (CEP) AND ARE LEGISLATED IN NINE STATES. WHILE UFSM ARE PRESUMED TO ALLEVIATE CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS, CRITICS WORRY THAT THEY MAY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON STUDENT HEALTH, PARTICULARLY OBESITY. MOREOVER, SCHOOL MEALS ACCOUNT FOR A SIZABLE PORTION OF CHILDREN'S DIETARY INTAKE. THUS, THE EXPANSION OF UFSM WILL IMPACT HOUSEHOLD FOOD BUDGETS WITH RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE RETAIL FOOD TRADE. DESPITE ONGOING DEBATES, EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON THE EFFECTS OF UFSM REMAINS LACKING. THIS GRANT PROPOSAL SETS OUT TO PROVIDE CONCRETE EVIDENCE THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSES. THE RESEARCH AIMS TO1) ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF UFSM ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD COSTS AND EXAMINE VARIATIONS AMONG DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSEHOLDS, 2) EVALUATE THE DIRECT IMPACT OF UFSM ON FOOD INSECURITY AND CHILDREN'S DIET QUALITY, BOTH AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME, AND 3) INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UFSM AND CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND MENTAL HEALTH. THE ANTICIPATED RESULTS WILL INFORM POLICY BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW UFSM CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO NUTRITIONAL SECURITY. THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH BROADER USDA AFRI PROGRAM PRIORITIES EMPHASIZING FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY DESIGN AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND BEHAVIORAL IMPACTS.