Canada’s National School Food Program can build a healthier future for kids

For children across Canada, access to food at school is changing quickly. In just a few years, the country has moved from having no dedicated federal funding for school food to establishing a national program designed to reach children across every province and territory. But expanding access is only the first step.

More investment is needed to not only feed hungry children but also ensure they receive nourishing meals and that schools and food programs have the staff, equipment and infrastructure needed to prepare and serve them. This expansion comes at a crucial time, as families face rising food costs and children face growing health challenges. The opportunity now is to ensure that school food is not only accessible, but genuinely nutritious.

What the research reveals 

New research commissioned by World Animal Protection and conducted by the Institute for Future Food Systems (IFFS) examined how well Canada’s National School Food Program aligns with Canada’s Food Guide, and what prevents schools from serving more nutritious meals.  

Canada’s Food Guide encourages more vegetables and fruit, whole grains and plant-based proteins, which are all areas where Canadian children’s diets still have significant gaps. However, because it was not designed for large-scale food service, the recommended foods are difficult for school programs to consistently buy, prepare and serve due to lack of staff and infrastructure. Additionally, funding for the National School Food Program is still well below the $5 per student daily minimum needed to serve healthy foods, making the program heavily reliant on volunteers and corporate food donations which are less likely to adhere to the Food Guide. 

With limited government data on the nutritional quality of school meals, our research helps shed light on a critical gap: only around half of meals served in schools align with the Food Guide’s recommendations, while plant-based proteins account for just 2–5% of menu offerings.  

As the program expands, Canada has an opportunity to improve children’s diets and strengthen the economy through sustained funding, clear nutrition standards and access to nutritious, Canadian-grown foods. In particular, increasing whole grains, fibre and plant-based proteins could help close some of the biggest nutritional gaps while offering affordable options to individual school districts.

Why plant-based proteins are a win for school food 

Investing in plant-based proteins can address several priorities at once: 

• Better nutrition: Nine in ten Canadian children do not get enough fiber. Beans, lentils and other plant proteins provide important sources of fiber and protein. One cup of lentils provides approximately 16 grams of fiber and 18 grams of protein. Making these foods more accessible at school can help close nutritional gaps and support healthier eating habits. 

• Affordability: Whole plant proteins are among the cheapest sources of protein per gram, making them a practical choice for school food programs working within limited budgets. With adequate funding and the right kitchen resources, schools can serve nutritious meals more consistently. 

• Canadian agriculture and food security: Canada is a leading producer of beans, lentils, peas and grains. Prioritizing Canadian farms for 30% of school food purchases could generate $4.8 billion in domestic food sales over a decade, while every dollar spent locally could return up to $2.60 in economic activity, majorly strengthening Canadian supply chains.  
• Lower environmental impact: Shifting school food towards meals aligned with Canada’s Food Guide could reduce environmental impacts by 26%, with reductions of around 50% if meals were fully plant-based.

More than a meal 

World Animal Protection is urging federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together to close funding, policy, nutrition and local supply chain gaps as they renew school food agreements in spring 2027. This includes aligning school meals with Canada’s Food Guide and setting a minimum target for plant-based protein options. By making nutrition a priority in funding and purchasing decisions, governments can help ensure children receive healthier meals while supporting Canadian farmers, food producers and more resilient domestic supply chains. 

Images courtesy of: New Africa