National School Food Policy

The National School Food Policy (2024) is a federal framework establishing the long-term vision for all children and youth in Canada to have access to nutritious food at school in an inclusive, non-stigmatizing environment that fosters healthy practices while strengthening connections with local food systems, the environment and culture. The policy defines six guiding principles (accessibility, health promotion, inclusivity, flexibility, sustainability and accountability) and five key objectives including working progressively towards universal access by prioritizing vulnerable populations, expanding investment with $1 billion from Budget 2024 to create a National School Food Program expected to serve up to 400,000 children annually and save average participating families with two children as much as $800 per year, helping children meet nutritional needs through healthy school food environments aligned with Canada's Food Guide, promoting culturally appropriate programming by collaborating with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, and creating opportunities for local economies by maximizing sourcing from local food producers, hunters, harvesters and processors. The policy is based on extensive national engagement with provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments, organizations, school communities and especially children and youth, with implementation beginning in the 2024-25 school year in collaboration with all orders of government to address that one in four children live in food insecure households.