A condensation of ideas generated during the 1982 Conference on More with Less, this guide presents methods of saving money, increasing student participation, and influencing decision-makers to maintain school meal programs in the face of reduced federal support. For each topic, specific suggestions, a brief case study, and addresses of resource people are offered. The first three chapters cover saving money through collective purchasing, using Department of Agriculture commodities, and creative menu planning. Ways of enlisting the help of food service employees, computer applications to keeping food costs down, and cost-accounting and increasing food service volume are covered in the next three chapters. The final three sections are devoted to increasing student participation through effective merchandizing, public relations techniques for enhancing community support, and developing "internal advocates" for school lunch programs within administrative and decision-making structures. References to other information sources are appended. (MJL)