Studies have indicated that the children who participate in National School Lunch Programs (NSLP) have better nutrient intakes than those who do not, resulting in better ability to concentrate and more attentive behavior. Concerns have been raised that students are not provided with enough time to receive and consume their lunches. A field research method was employed in two elementary schools in Pittsburgh, NY (PL) and Ellensburg, WA (EL) to determine total travel time (TTT), student total waiting time (TWT), and opportunity time to eat (OTE) at each location. 1877 student observations were made over 20 days of data collection. The lunch period in EL consisted of five, 15minute staggered lunch periods each followed by a 15minute recess. PL provided 40 to 45minutes of combined time for lunch followed by recess. Students ate in the cafeteria in EL and in the classroom in PL. TTT consisted of travel to the cafeteria and in PL, travel back to the classroom. (EL: 1.68 ± 0.68min; PL: 6.62 ± 2.27min; (all data are means ± SD), p < 0.0001). TWT consisted of waiting for service and for the cashier (EL: 3.06 ± 1.63min; PL: 2.65 ± 1.72min, p< 0.0001). OTE (EL: 11.08 ± 3.07min; PL: 11.98 ± 4.35min, p < 0.05) consisted of consumption time (EL: 7.47 ± 2.5min; PL: 7.25 ± 2.95min, NS) and non-consumption time (EL: 3.95 ± 3.35min; PL: 4.73 ± 3.47min, p < 0.05). Consumption time significantly decreased from kindergarten to fifth grade by 2.68min indicating students may be conditioned to eat fester as they progress through school. To meet the consumption and non-consumption needs of nearly all elementary students, a lunch period of at least a 25minutes is required.