The Current How should we rethink the school lunch hour?
Nov 10, 2025
Amberlee Ritz, a researcher focused on school food policy, Brady Weiler, director of an Indigenous school lunch program, and Sean McNeil, policy director at PEI, discuss the transformative potential of a National School Food Program. They explore issues like food insecurity's impact on learning, the benefits of healthy meals at school, and innovative funding models. Insights into PEI's province-wide program and the importance of local sourcing reveal how such initiatives can change lives. They also highlight challenges in scaling these programs across Canada.
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Permanent Funding Lays A Foundation
- A permanent national school food program creates a foundation for healthy food access in schools.
- Amberlee Ritz says the commitment is historic but needs more funding to be robust.
School Meals Shape Lifelong Health
- School meals influence lifelong eating habits and public health.
- Amberlee Ritz argues investing in school food benefits children’s long-term health and the economy.
Use Sliding-Scale Payment Models
- Use sliding-scale or pay-what-you-can models to make meals affordable and flexible.
- Amberlee Ritz recommends these models to accommodate varying family finances month-to-month.