ON Chapter | Coalition for Healthy School Food

The issue

Research shows that most children and youth are not receiving adequate nutrition. Only one-third of children aged 4-8 eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables, while just one-fifth of youth aged 12-17 meet recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake[1]. Poor nutrition has serious consequences, including short-term impacts on students’ academic success, mental well-being, and overall growth and development, and causes increased rates of costly nutrition-related illnesses over time[2].

In addition, skills and knowledge about food and food systems are becoming increasingly eroded. These skills and knowledge are essential for buiding positive lifelong relationships with foods and making decisions that support resilient and equitable food systems [3].

Meanwhile, Ontario families are struggling. In 2023, 24.5% of people within Ontario were recorded as living in a food-insecure household, including 30.7% of children [4]. Access to nutritious food is therefore out of reach for more and more families.

One part of the solution: Invest in school food

While school food programs are not a replacement for robust income security measures to directly address household food insecurity [5], they are a key component of a comprehensive social support system: they reduce children’s hunger during school hours, relieve pressure from household budgets, and improve the diets of children and youth across socio-economic backgrounds.

Universal, stigma-free school food programs are recognized internationally as a valuable health promotion policy. A wide body of research demonstrates school food programs have overwhelming economic and policy benefits including [6]:

01
Children consume one-third of their daily food at school, making school food programs an ideal way to support nutritious eating for all kids. School food programs can help reduce the $5.6 billion in annual costs of nutrition related disease in Ontario by supporting children’s physical and mental health, and by fostering healthy eating behaviours that can last a lifetime. School food programs also help to ensure all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.
02
When children have access to nutritious food at school, research shows they have improved ability to pay attention, be alert, perform well on math, reading, and other standardized tests [7] , as well as take initiative, participate in class, and problem solve. School food has also been shown to improve school attendance, punctuality, and graduation rates, and contribute to higher lifetime earnings and education levels [8].
03
Strengthening Ontario’s school food programs will immediately take pressure off household budgets and will be welcomed by parents across the province as a tangible response to the affordability crisis and a relief to the time-burdens of packing school meals. Research shows that universal free school meals (breakfasts and lunches) can provide immediate relief to household budgets and save families between $129 to $189 per child per month on groceries, or between $2,500 to $3,700 annually for two children.
04
Building on examples in BC, PEI, QU, and countries worldwide, Ontario can achieve its Grow Ontario Strategy by supporting local food procurement in school food programs. Doing so will create predictable markets for food producers, generate employment opportunities for farmers, food service and distribution workers, and strengthen local and regional food systems, and the entire Ontario agri-food sector.
05
06
[1] Polsky & Garriguet, 2020 (Table 5); Statistics Canada, 2023
[2] Gallegos et al., 2021; Lieffers et al, 2018; Tugault-Lafleur et al, 2017;
[3] Slater et al., 2018; Vidgen & Gallegos, 2014
[4] PROOF, 2024
[5] PROOF, 2022b; Raphael et al., 2020 (p.34)
[6] As reported by Ruetz and colleagues, 2023
[7] Anderson et al, 2017; Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015
[8] Turner & Chaloupka, 2015; Muthuswamy, 2012
[9] The Coalition acknowledges that school food may be prepared by a variety of individuals including siblings, caregivers, grandparents, fathers, extended family, etc., and is not limited to mothers; though research shows that packing school meals is a household task taken on predominantly by women (Schaeffer, 2019).

Learn more about how school food programs can improve children's lives, strengthen communities, and transform food systems in Canada!

References

The Benefits of
School Food Programs

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How Can Parents/Caregivers Take Action on School Food in Ontario?

Parents and caregivers are situated in ideal positions to take action in support of school food programs within their communities. Find out about how school food programs can make a difference to your family and families in your community and what you can do to support below.