Factors contributing to school food program acceptance: a Review of Canadian literature

Abstract

Diet quality and food security are a concern in school-aged children in Canada. In 2019, the Canadian federal government announced the intention to work towards a national school food program. Understanding the factors that impact school food program acceptability can inform planning to ensure that students are willing to participate. A scoping review of school food programs in Canada completed in 2019 identified 17 peer-reviewed and 18 grey literature publications. Of these, five peer-reviewed and nine grey literature publications included a discussion of factors that impact the acceptance of school food programs. These factors were thematically analyzed into categories: stigmatization, communication, food choice and cultural considerations, administration, location and timing, and social considerations. Considering these factors while planning can help to maximize program acceptability.

Health, wellbeing and nutritional impacts after 2 years of free school meals in New Zealand

“…Focus group themes illustrated that parental perceptions of the program were deeply rooted in their own relationships to food and nourishment. While stigma associated with participating in free lunch program was not found in our study, it has been brought up by parents in others ( Bailey-Davis et al , 2013 ; Everitt et al , 2023 ).…”

“…A 2013 working paper to the New Zealand government outlining a school food framework recommended parental and student involvement, as well as taking a health-promoting approach and curriculum integration ( NZ Children’s Commissioner, 2013 ). The need for communication was also a theme in Everitt et al ’s recent scoping review of acceptance of school food programs in Canada ( Everitt et al , 2023 ), recommending that students be involved in menu planning to ensure foods provided are acceptable. This appears to have been neglected in these schools.…”

“…At a time when the New Zealand government must decide whether to maintain, expand, reduce or cancel the school lunch program ( Gerritsen, 2023 ), and when similar initiatives are being considered in Canada ( Everitt et al , 2023 ), Australia ( Ore, 2022 ) and London ( Allegretti, 2023 ), this paper provides important evidence of the socio-economic and wellbeing impact for students and families. These families and students have genuine lived experiences of food insecurity and have witnessed how daily healthy school lunches offer multiple advantages.…”

Not Just a Free Lunch a logic model and evidence review for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunch programme

“…Research and media coverage have highlighted issues with perceptions of poor quality or insufficient amounts of food being served, particularly when the food is provided by an external caterer (Clark-Dow, 2023;Northland Age, 2022). Much research already exists on the factors that influence uptake of lunches (Everitt et al, 2023) and parental perceptions are fundamental, particularly for primary school-aged children (Bailey-Davis et al, 2013;Martinelli et al, 2020Martinelli et al, , 2021. Opportunity remains, therefore, to strengthen children and whänau engagement in food through curriculum and other strategies.…”