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Global Momentum Behind Student Voices in School Food

By: Katelyn MacLellan and Avery Cheung, Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetic students at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Students participating in school food discussions and activities, representing youth voices shaping school food programs in Canada and globally.

Photo credit: Katelyn MacLellan and Avery Cheung, Master of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetic students at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Students are not just recipients of school meals: they are shaping them.

School food programs around the world are continuing to evolve. Increasingly, students are moving beyond just receiving school meals to becoming active voices in shaping food decisions in schools. 


This shift reflects an important reality: young people experience school food every day, and their perspectives offer unique insight into what makes a program succeed. Research shows that when students are meaningfully included in conversations about school food, programs can see benefits such as higher participation, reduced food waste, and stronger connections between food, learning, and well-being (Alattar et al., 2020, Cohen et al., 2021,Flores et al., 2014).

Why Student Voices Matter

Student participation fosters a sense of independence and belonging. When school food programs reflect students’ preferences, cultures,and lived experiences, they can improve meal acceptance and participation (Badyal & Moffat, 2025). Stronger food literacy is also linked to healthier eating behaviours. Supportive and inclusive food environments help develop positive dietary patterns and lifelong skills (Silva et al., 2023). Effective school food programs thrive on collaboration between educators, policymakers, families, and students themselves, ensuring that programs are informed by those who experience them every day.


What is A.M.P. Up Student Voices for School Food?

For this year’s Great Big Crunch, the Coalition will launch the A.M.P. Up Youth Voices for School Food campaign (Amplify, Mobilize, Participate), a new initiative designed to bring student voices to the centre of school food conversations. 


In the coming weeks, A.M.P. up will introduce a set of simple, adaptable tools and activities that make it easy for educators and school communities to engage students in meaningful ways.


From classroom discussions to school-wide initiatives, A.M.P. Up creates space for students to share their ideas, experiences, and questions - and to help strengthen the school food programs that they are part of every day.


A.M.P. Up positions students as partners in shaping positive food environments. It builds leadership skills, fosters independence, and reinforces the idea that school food is part of a broader learning environment.Whether through reflection activities, classroom conversations, or school-wide initiatives, the goal is to make students’ voices visible and valued.

Students Driving Change Around the World

Students around the world are already helping influence their school food programs in creative and meaningful ways.


Toronto’s Fight for “Real Food” Students within the Toronto District School Board have advocated for practical improvements, including less sugary snacks, increased transparency, and strengthened nutrition education. Their efforts highlight how youth engagement can spark constructive conversation within local school programs.


Teens for Food Justice This youth-centred nonprofit supports students in building and operating hydroponic farms inside schools. These farms produce fresh food for school communities while providing hands-on learning about nutrition, sustainability, and food equity. 


Bite Back Movement in the UK The youth activists organized this large-scale advocacy campaign that contributed to conversations about stronger nutrition standards. Their work demonstrates how student voices can shape public awareness and policy discussions. 


World Vision’s Enough campaign Young researchers in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal conducted their own research on school nutrition. Their findings emphasized meal quality, adequate portion sizes, and safe cooking and eating spaces. 


Youth Voices Take the Lead in First Webinar on School Food and Nutrition International organizations increasingly highlight youth participation as a key component of sustainable school food systems.A consistent theme emerged: for school programs to be effective, students must be meaningfully involved - not included as an afterthought.


Across these examples, one theme stands out: school meals are most effective when shaped with students’ lived experience in mind. This is the same principle at the heart of A.M.P. up Student Voices for School Food. 

What does this mean for Canada?

These global examples offer important lessons as Canada continues to develop its National School Food Program. The program reflects growing recognition that both food access and food quality are essential to student health and learning. 


As implementation continues, there is a significant opportunity to ensure that student voices are embedded as a core component of school food programs in Canada.

At the same time, implementation brings real-world challenges. Many schools operate within diverse conditions:  varying kitchen spaces, storage capacity, staffing, and funding structures, which creates both constraints and opportunities for thoughtful improvement.


Canada’s regional diversity also shapes how school food programs operate. Communities in Canada differ in infrastructure, culture, and access:


  • Rural and remote communities may face transportation and supply challenges

  • Indigenous communities emphasize the need for cultural relevance and food sovereignty

  • Urban schools often serve large higher numbers of students with limited space.


Recognizing these realities is essential to building a strong, responsive school food framework that reflects local needs and priorities. 

What You Can Do

As A.M.P. Up Student Voices for School Food rolls out, there will be new opportunities for schools, educators, families, and students to get involved in simple and meaningful ways: 


Educators

  • Start classroom discussions about school food thoughts and experiences

  • Explore upcoming A.M.P. Up Student Voices for School Food activities designed to bring student voices into your classrooms. 

  • Encourage student leadership and involvement through student councils or clubs


Parents and Caregivers

  • Ask children about their school food experiences

  • Participate in school committees where possible

  • Support conversations about food literacy and nutrition


Students

  • Take part in classroom discussions and surveys

  • Get ready to share your ideas and lead conversations about school food in your school

  • Get involved in initiatives like the Great Big Crunch

Looking Ahead

Canada has a unique opportunity to continue building a program that reflects not only policy goals, but lived experiences of students across diverse communities. By creating space for youth voices, schools can strengthen participation, improve outcomes, and foster positive food environments. 


Around the world, students are playing an active role in shaping their school food programs. In the coming weeks, A.M.P. Up Student Voices for School Food will invite school communities in Canada to do the same. This creates a space for students to share their perspectives and feedback, reflect, and guide decisions affecting their daily lives at school.


Stay tuned for tools, activities, and ways to get involved. 


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