Kids Must Eat

This 1940s educational film, likely produced during WWII, features the popular "Quiz Kids"—bright youngsters from the radio show hosted by Joe Kelly—explaining the school lunch program’s mission to boost child nutrition using surplus foods. Filmed in black-and-white, it mimics their quiz format: the kids, perched at desks with microphones, field questions about the National School Lunch Program, launched in 1946 but rooted in wartime efforts. A lively narrator prompts them to detail how it combats malnutrition with balanced meals—milk, veggies, and grains—often from abundant local supplies like corn or apples. Scenes shift between their studio banter and school cafeterias, where kids line up for trays, showcasing menus designed to stretch wartime surpluses while meeting nutritional needs. The Quiz Kids’ charm—witty answers, precocious stats—drives home the stakes: healthy kids fuel a strong nation. A blend of radio flair and propaganda, it ends with a patriotic nod to collective effort, urging support for school feeding initiatives.