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Student involvement in school food programs

Last updated on March 13, 2025

The Vancouver School District (SD39) is creating opportunities for students to develop life skills and build a deeper connection to food.

Growing connections to food through student involvement

Through the Edible Education curriculum and LunchLAB program at Lord Roberts Elementary, students engage in meaningful, hands-on experiences that enhance their school food programs while building food literacy and practical skills.

The strategy

Brent Mansfield teaches Edible Education, where students from kindergarten to grade 7 learn gardening, healthy eating habits and food prep basics. Some of the food from the learning garden even ends up in the school salad bar when the harvest is most abundant. “If they have some connection to it, if they were involved in planting it, 90% of them will eat kale and any other vegetable we grow,” Brent explained.

The hands-on experience continues in LunchLAB (Learning, Access and Building Community), a partnership between SD39 and local charity Growing Chefs. Professional chefs-in-residence mentor grade 6 and 7 students on the Chef Team and help them prepare and serve nutritious meals for their peers. On Chef Team, students gain practical experience in meal planning, recipe development and kitchen teamwork.  

Kids sitting at a long table sharing a meal prepared at LunchLAB.

The result

Now in its sixth year, LunchLAB is expanding, with five schools set to participate. The program is so popular that some schools now offer three Chef Team cohorts, while eager Grade 5 and 6 students can contribute through joining the Clean Team.

LunchLAB fosters food literacy, life skills and community service. Kids take pride in contributing to their school community and exploring new foods. Brent noted that, when given the opportunity, his students prove they are more capable and competent than we often give them credit for.

For schools looking to engage students in food programs, Brent suggests starting small. Connect with teachers, parents and local businesses. Get students involved in serving food and ask for their input on meals.