Canadian school food program operators are currently experiencing an unprecedented demand as children prepare to return to school. This surge in demand underscores the urgent need for a national school food policy, according to The Breakfast Club of Canada and The Coalition for Healthy School Food. The organizations attribute the growing need for school food programs to the rising cost of living.
Judith Barry, co-founder and director for government relations at Breakfast Club of Canada, explains that they have seen a significant increase in the number of children attending their programs, especially in recent years since the start of the pandemic. Providing access to food for one child is already challenging, but the task becomes even more difficult when there are hundreds of thousands of children to reach.
For the past 30 years, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with a network of school communities to implement breakfast programs. Currently, they support over 3,000 programs nationwide and provide meals to approximately half a million students each day during the school year.
Statistics Canada data reveals that in 2022, 1.8 million households reported experiencing some level of food insecurity, compared to 1.1 million in 2021. Households with children are particularly affected by higher rates of food insecurity.
The impact of high food prices is also evident in food banks. The Ottawa Food Bank recently announced that it had to reduce the shifts for volunteers due to a shortage of donated food.
Food prices continue to outpace overall inflation, with the cost of groceries increasing by 8.5% in July compared to the previous year, according to Statistics Canada.
Carolyn Webb, knowledge mobilization coordinator with the Coalition for Healthy School Food, explains that the rising food costs and increasing demand from families pose a significant challenge for school food programs across the country. In Ontario alone, providers have reported a 40-80% increase in food expenses since the start of the pandemic, alongside a 20-40% increase in program demand.
Some programs have had to make adjustments, such as reducing the serving of fruits and vegetables and increasing the reliance on grains. Others have had to reduce the overall quality or quantity of food provided.
Breakfast Club of Canada is facing similar challenges, with expenses increasing faster than revenue. This year, they heavily rely on donations but emphasize the need for a national school food policy to ensure increased access to nutritious meals for children on campuses nationwide. Sixty-five percent of the organization’s budget comes from donations, with the remaining portion made up of government programs and grants.
The World Food Program reports that in 2020, approximately 388 million schoolchildren received daily meals through national school food programs in 161 countries across all income levels.
Although the 2022 federal budget included a national school food policy, the details, including the timeline and funding, are still unclear. Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, expresses the government’s commitment to giving children a better start in life and states that the results of extensive consultations will be shared soon.
While the release of the consultation report is a step forward, Judith Barry urges the government to take more urgent action in implementing a national school food policy. The Coalition for Healthy School Food advocates for a policy that is universal, cost-shared, and flexible, and hopes to see it included in the 2024 federal budget.
Ensuring that children have access to nutritious meals at school is vital for their physical health, mental health, future eating habits, behavior, and academic performance, according to Carolyn Webb. Federal investment in school food programs would not only lower future healthcare costs and alleviate financial pressure on families but also support local farmers and economies. Providing meals to children at school should be the norm in Canada, and efforts should be made to guarantee that all children are well-fed and ready to learn.
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