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Why school food programs matter

Last updated on March 13, 2025

School food programs can provide students with access to nutritious, local food in a way that reduces stigma. When students are well-fed and ready to learn, they can thrive in and out of school.

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Benefits for students, caregivers and communities

Students

For students, the benefits of school food programs may include:

Academic

  • Improved learning outcomes
  • Coming to school more often and on time
  • Being more engaged and ready to learn
  • Building a stronger connection to food and local food systems   

Children sitting at desks in a classroom, raising hands.

Physical

  • Feeling less hungry
  • Improved physical and mental health
  • Eating more nutritious foods
  • Trying new foods

Social

  • Connecting with classmates, teachers and school staff
  • Feeling part of a community
  • Experiencing diverse or traditional foods

Caregivers

For families and caregivers, the benefits of school food programs may include:

  • Reducing financial pressures
  • Spending less time preparing and packing food for school
  • Reducing the burden on caregivers to have fresh, nutritious and packable food for lunches
  • Having an opportunity for kids to try new foods with their peers

Communities

For communities, the benefits of school food programs may include: 

  • Building strong connections between schools, local non-profits and community organizations
  • Supporting local farmers and food businesses

Read more about the benefits of B.C. foods in school food programs

Why students use school food programs

There are many reasons why a student might be hungry and need to access food at school, such as: 

  • Rushing in the morning with not enough time for breakfast
  • Forgetting lunch at home
  • Getting dropped off early or having long travel times to school
  • Not having enough food to eat at home
  • Going through a growth spurt
  • Participating in extra-curricular activities before or after school

Learn about school food programs in your district

In B.C., school districts can use Feeding Futures funding to run school food programs that meets the unique needs of their students and community.

To find out more about programs in your school district, contact your district or school’s administration directly.