Toward a national school food program in Canada

Understanding current landscape and context

Abstract

Introduction: In Canada, there is a growing commitment to developing a national school food program (SFP) to improve children’s diet and address existing and widening health inequities. Having an understanding of the current landscape of SFP offerings and context is essential to inform the national SFP development.

Methods: Available data are scarce; we drew from three unique school-based surveys: a provincially-representative sample of elementary schools from the Raising Healthy Eating and Active Living Kids in Alberta study (2008-2014), a sample of elementary schools with active whole-school health promotion intervention called A Project Promoting Active Living and Healthy Eating Schools (intervention years 1-6), and a convenience sample of secondary schools from the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental Health, Physical Activity, Alcohol, Smoking, and Sedentary Behaviour study (2016/17-2021/22). Descriptive analyses assessed the temporal trends in SFP availability, characteristics, and enablers/barriers.

Results: Secondary schools reported a decrease in SFP availability, while the opposite trend was observed in elementary schools, particularly those with a whole-school health promotion intervention in place. Elementary schools with an active health promotion intervention also demonstrated improved awareness, incorporation, and compliance with provincial nutrition guidelines. Barriers to SFP included funding constraints and infrastructure challenges, and these remained consistent over the years.

Conclusion: Given the complexity of factors that impact SFP availability, there is an urgent need for a national SFP and harmonized school food policy to help improve Canadian children’s diet, ensure lifelong healthy eating habits, and promote health equity.