Presented in this paper are results from a study conducted by the Food Research and Action Center to examine the immediate impact of the 1981 cuts in federal support for child nutrition programs on states, selected school districts, and students. The first step of the study included a brief review of literature regarding the nutritional problems of school-age children in the United States, the nutritional content of school lunches, the impact of school lunches on children's nutritional intake, the nutritional content of lunches not provided through the schools, and the relationship between the cost of school lunches and student participation in programs. Following this review, questionnaires were developed for state child nutrition directors, for key people in selected schools responsible for maintaining lunch programs and in schools that had dropped the program, and for children in those same elementary and secondary schools. Questionnaires were administered by anti-hunger advocates around the country. Forty-four states responded to the state director's questionnaire. In the selected school survey, data were collected from 19 schools that had maintained lunch programs (363 students in 11 states) and from 8 schools that had dropped programs (187 students in 4 states). In general, results suggest that the 1981-82 fiscal year budget cuts and legislative changes in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program have had a severe impact on schools and school children nationwide. Copies of the questionnaires employed are appended along with other related materials. (MP)