2018/09/30 by Kimberley Hernandez, Rachel Engler‐Stringer, Sara Kirk +2 · 1 voice · 4 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · Medicine · #Diverse Educational Innovations Studies #Environmental Education and Sustainability #Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
paper · pdf · doi:10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i3.260
openalex publication_date 2018/09/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Canada is one of the only member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) without a national school food program. Good nutrition impacts children’s health, wellbeing, and learning; and school food environments offer an important setting to promote health and other food system sustainability behaviours that can last a lifetime. We present an overview of national and international evidence, with a focus on promising practices that support the establishment of a national school food program in Canada. School food programs have been shown to benefit health and dietary behaviour and critical food literacy skills (learning, culture, and social norms) that support local agriculture and promote sustainable food systems. Finally, we make recommendations for key elements that should be included in a national school food program for Canada.