The dramatic rise of childhood obesity and food-related environmental concerns has led to a focus on school food both in terms of the quality of meals served and the state of teaching and learning about food systems, food choices, and their impact on health, the environment, and other issues.

A growing number of schools around the country have installed school gardens and attempted to change the quality of school lunches, but many of these efforts have been poorly integrated with teaching and learning.

The September 2010 report, Changing Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior in Relation to Food: An Evaluation of the School Lunch Initiative, conducted by the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health, University of California at Berkeley, examined the results of one of the first comprehensive programs in the nation, located in Berkeley, California.

A collaboration among the Chez Panisse Foundation, Center for Ecoliteracy, and Berkeley Unified School District, the School Lunch Initiative was based on the hypothesis that if young people are involved in growing, cooking, and sharing fresh, healthy food while learning about it in the curriculum, they will be more likely to develop lifelong healthy eating habits and values consistent with sustainable living.