Historical lessons for Canada's emerging national school food policy: an opportunity to improve child health

Keywords: Indigenous populations; immigrants; inclusion; nutrition; school meal programs; students.

Plain language summary

School meals are one of the most successful drivers of improved health and education. In 2021, the Canadian federal government committed $1 billion over 5 years to develop a national school food policy and work towards a national school nutritious meal program. Canadian policy makers should learn from the experiences of other countries, including the United States’ National School Lunch Program. We propose 3 priority areas to maximize health improvements: (1) resisting corporatization and prioritizing health; (2) preventing stigma through universal access; and (3) ensuring cultural inclusion and appropriateness.