The National School Food Program
April 1st, 2024 was not marked by the usual April Fool’s Day antics, but by something more significant that will impact the lives of millions of Canadian children and their families: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of a National School Food Program (NSFP). This program is set to provide nutritious meals to students across the country. This means better academic and health outcomes for Canadian children. The idea of a national school food program in Canada is not new. Canada was the only G7 country (an informal grouping of seven of the world’s leading economies) without a NSFP. Health professionals, teachers, organizations, and parents have for a long time been advocating for a national school food program, recognizing the important role that nutrition plays in a child’s development and learning. The hope is with a NSFP, that every child has access to at least one nutritious meal a day while at school.
The Prime Minister’s announcement outlined a comprehensive plan that will be rolled out in stages. The program is set to receive one billion dollars over five years. It aims to provide meals to 400,000 children annually, in addition to those served by the local food programs. This staged approach will allow for different communities across Canada to make it work best for them (Government of Canada, 2024).
On June 20th, the Prime Minister announced the new NSFP Policy. The new policy outlines the NSFP vision: “That all children and youth in Canada have access to nutritious food at school, in an inclusive, non-stigmatizing environment that fosters healthy practices, while strengthening connections with local food systems, the environment and culture.“
The NSFP hopes to see children getting meals before the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, the school food program will count on existing organizations that already provide meals and snacks to students.
There are six guiding principles for the policy: Accessible, Health Promoting, Inclusive, Flexible, Sustainable, and Accountable.
One important aspect of the NFSP is universality. This means all children will have access to the program and receive a free meal or snack. The food served will be consistent with the healthy eating recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide. Children will have opportunities to learn and develop their nutritional knowledge and food skills. Also, children will have access to culturally appropriate school food programs which aim to engage students and communities.
The NSFP will try to source local foods when possible. Programs are designed to be environmentally sustainable and well-resourced. Also, the NSFP will aim to create partnerships with the local food producers and farmers. The partnerships will not only support the local economy, but the program will take a more sustainable approach in reducing the carbon footprint. This will align with the broader efforts to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future. The programs will be evaluated and monitored consistently to ensure they are achieving the policy objectives (Canada, 2024).
What does this mean for Canadian children and their families?
For children it means having access to nutritious food while at school.
For parents it means peace of mind knowing their children will not go hungry while at school. And for the many families struggling with grocery prices, this program is expected to save the average family with two children as much as $800 per year in grocery cost (Government of Canada, 2024).
Next steps…
The Policy underlines the importance of ongoing collaboration with partners across Canada. This will include coordination with provinces, territories, and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to advance the vision. The Policy concludes with a commitment from the Government of Canada to work with various levels of government and partners “to improve access to information on school food programing, report on progress, and share best practices.”
I am eager to see this plan in action, and I am committed to supporting local partners and their initiatives. The NSFP will address critical needs of children, as the benefits of this program represent the government’s commitment to nurturing the next generation and investing in their future. Although there will be changes and challenges moving forward, coming together as a nation to advocate for the health and future of our children is possible.
Written by Octavia Vanca, Dietetic Practicum Student
For more info, visit:
https://www.healthyschoolfood.ca/post/release-of-the-national-school-food-policy
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberals-national-food-program-1.7241745
https://globalnews.ca/video/10582513/canada-wide-school-food-program-in-the-works/
References:
Government of Canada. (n.d.). National school food policy: What we heard report. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/school-food/reports/national-policy.html
Government of Canada. (2024, April 1). National school food program set up for kids’ success. Retrieved from https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2024/04/01/national-school-food-program-set-kids-success
Coalition for Healthy School Food. (2024, June 20). Release of the national school food policy. Retrieved from https://www.healthyschoolfood.ca/post/release-of-the-national-school-food-policy
