Welcoming and caring schools: a health-promoting schools analysis from a 2-year Canadian universal school lunch pilot

To advance the long-term goal of a universal national school food program (SFP) in Canada, understanding the benefits of such programs is important. Through 2021-23, a universal curriculum-integrated school lunch pilot was introduced in two low-income and culturally diverse schools in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Case study research and interviews with 43 school staff were conducted over the course of the pilot to understand school and student-level benefits. Following an inductive-deductive analysis informed by a Health Promoting Schools (HPS) approach, it was found that the universal lunch enhanced the schools' social environment and supported teaching and learning. Results demonstrated that the pilot improved the well-being of students through creating welcoming and caring spaces in the school, supporting student achievement and attendance, enriching student food exposure and healthy eating, and enhancing opportunities for learning. Furthermore, the introduction of the universal lunch was reported to reduce the stigma of school lunch and support staff wellness. This research suggests freshly prepared, nutritious, and inclusive universal lunch programs can be an effective policy approach to support health promotion in schools. Recognizing the holistic benefits of universal lunch programs can help health and education sectors and other partners work together to advance lunch programs as school-wide, HPS interventions.