Well-fed generation: School food programs offer more than lunch

By Sacia Burton (they/she) and Chantelle Spicer (she/they), BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

As educators know, a hungry child is not set up for learning. But hunger is not just a classroom issue—it’s a structural one. School food programs are more than meals—they’re a front-line intervention for poverty reduction, a part of reconciliation practice, and a foundation for student success in BC’s public schools. There is child poverty in every school district in BC. That’s why it makes sense for every public school in BC to have a universally accessible school food program.

Recent investments by the BC and federal governments have moved school food programs into the spotlight. In 2023, the BC government committed $214 million over three years for Feeding Futures, the largest investment in school food programs in the province’s history. For these investments to be meaningfully applied, we must ensure that no one faces barriers to accessing food in schools. The first principle of BC’s Feeding Futures program lays the groundwork for daily school food access in an “equitable, accessible and non-stigmatizing manner” for all students. To make this a reality, school food programs must meet the accessibility needs of students and ensure all students have the same food options and receive food from the same place.

“As we reflect on the essence of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17, we’re thinking about a well-fed future for all BC students.”

There are many reasons a school lunchbox may be empty or inadequately filled. Whether the issue is chronic, sporadic, or a one-off situation, lack of access to nutritious food affects student well-being. Primary students may not yet understand why their lunch looks different from their classmates, but they feel the effects just the same. Older students, though more aware of their home-life context, may face social pressures that prevent them from flagging their need. Universally available food programs eliminate social and bureaucratic barriers for students at any age.

Beyond filling bellies and putting classmates on an equal social footing at mealtime, school food programs offer space for reconciliation in practice. Ten years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, calls for better education, health, and closing outcome gaps for Indigenous children remain urgent. A part of this reconciliation work is the sustainable inclusion of local, Indigenous foods into school lunches, as modelled by School District 50 in Haida Gwaii, which also engages students in growing and harvesting practices. Promoting food literacy and access in tandem would support the well-being of the 90% of Indigenous children and youth in BC attending public schools.

Effective learning is only possible when students are well-fed and free from food insecurity and poverty. These challenges, if left unaddressed, affect future employment opportunities and lead to lower educational outcomes and further marginalization for vulnerable students. As we reflect on the essence of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17, we’re thinking about a well-fed future for all BC students. By supporting unrestricted access to school food programs in BC, we have the opportunity to equalize the school experience for all.

Teachers already go above and beyond—sharing snacks, checking in with hungry students, and stretching limited resources, which often amounts to an over-full plate of responsibility. A universal food program doesn’t replace that care—it supports and strengthens it.