Lunchbox labour is back — here’s how Canada’s new school food program can grow

Canadian school food has historically been the responsibility of individual families, deviating from most affluent countries with long histories of school-provided meals. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe) Lunchbox labour is back — here’s how Canada’s new school food program can grow Published: August 25, 2026 3.10pm EDT Share article Print article The grind of packing school lunches is returning for many families this fall. Ensuring children’s access to nutritious food at school is a daily act of care that fuels their learning, nutritional well-being and sense of connection. But this essential work takes a toll on caregivers and family budgets. Read more: ‘So much mental load’: Mothers speak about school lunches Additional hurdles exist for food-insecure families whose children are twice as likely to report missing school lunch altogether. School food has historically been the responsibility of individual families in Canada, deviating from most affluent countries with long histories of school-provided meals. But substantial changes are now underway following the 2024 launch of Canada’s first National School Food Policy and the National School Food Program. As federal school food funding rolls out, developing rigorous, transparent and well-governed systems for collecting data and sharing lessons learned will be important. As school food scholars, we hope researchers, policymakers, schools and advocates can collaboratively nourish a culture of evidence-based policymaking to sustain programs into the future. Working closely with students highlighted how important school food workers are. (Rachel Engler-Stringer), Author provided (no reuse) Food is a source of care, support Our work documenting the rollout of new lunch programs in Canada finds that students talk about food as a source of care and support, with impacts on their school experience beyond the meals’ nutritional content. Kids taught us that social relationships and care work are important but overlooked benefits of school lunch programs. Working closely with students also highlighted how important school food workers and trusted adults are. The undervalued labour of lunch has been thoughtfully documented in the United States. But in Canada, little scholarly or public attention underscores these important roles or addresses how to train, engage and document the impacts of lunch workers who provide the nutritious and locally adapted menus and caring dynamics needed for programs to thrive. Read…