School food environments are complex and often must accommodate various dietary needs and preferences. If children and youth are offered foods they find unfamiliar, unappealing, or cannot tolerate, they may choose to go hungry instead. This can negatively affect their behavior and their ability to concentrate and learn.
Having open communication with students and their caregivers, while respecting Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding, will increase acceptance of school food programs. In the next few sections, we will discuss:
Indigenous Food in Classrooms
While introducing Indigenous foods in schools has challenges, the benefits, like fostering Indigenous pride and representation, are profound. It’s a vital gesture of inclusion and empowerment.
Video: Cúagilákv (Jess Housty), Co-lead at Right Relations Collaborative.
The types of foods offered or not offered in a school meal program can create barriers to student participation. Being aware of the dietary needs of your student population and communicating the types of foods and ingredients served will allow parents to feel safe and informed about your school food program.
Build Awareness: Ask caregivers to share dietary restrictions. Many providers can accommodate dietary restrictions if they are made aware of them.
Be Curious: Caregivers of children with diverse needs often have great ideas to support inclusion; they just need to be asked.
Visit Healthy Schools
Because the Health and
Well-Being of our Students Matter.