The purpose of the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act of 2026 is to improve the quality of school meals by promoting scratch cooking. Scratch cooking refers to preparing meals using whole or minimally processed ingredients, rather than pre-packaged or heavily processed foods. This legislation aims to enhance the nutritional value of meals served in schools and support healthier eating habits among students. Key provisions of the act include the establishment of a pilot program that will provide competitive grants to school food authorities.