Research on School Nutrition Policies and Programs Dr. Mary McKennaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB

Food Secure Canada, Montreal, QC, November 2013

Questions• How many breakfasts did Nourish Nova Scotia provide last

year in provincial schools?• https://nourishns.ca/our-story

• What research offers the most compelling data to help Raise the Bar on Student Food Programs?

Overview• Any aspect of an issue is a potential research topic• Problem definition• Scope of the problem• Alternative views• Solutions• Stakeholders• Accountability and monitoring

Why student nutrition programs?• Problem definition influences stakeholder involvement and

identification of solutions• How does problem identification influence current and

proposed actions and stakeholders?• Do we require a common understanding of ‘the problem’ to

proceed successfully?• Why are student nutrition programs needed?

• Hungry students• Insufficient availability of healthy food• Insufficient availability of local, sustainable food• Inadequate/inappropriate food to support optimal learning• Child poverty• A combination/all of the above

What is the scope of the problem?• If we had a better understanding of what is happening in

student nutrition, would it enable us to make a more compelling case?• How many students access student nutrition programs?• Where are programs located?

• http://globalnews.ca/news/370804/income-by-postal-code/• What is the relationship if any between program locations and

household income levels?• What level of funding exists for programs and who are the

funders?

Alternative Views • What data are needed to address alternative views?• Families should feed their children/are not the responsibility of

schools• Student nutrition programs are an inappropriate response to the

problem• When framed as a student hunger issue, it distracts policy-makers

from the fundamental issue of child poverty• As a social policy tool, student nutrition programs are too expensive

relative to their potential benefits • Student nutrition programs are not within the jurisdiction of the

federal government• Insufficient evidence exists regarding the benefits of student

nutrition programs

Solutions• What are components of effective and sustainable models

for student nutrition in Canada?• Sharing compelling stories• Learning from existing research• Interviews with program coordinators (2013)• Snack programs for Aboriginal students (2013)• Policy implementation impact on school food environments (2013)• Household food insecurity in Canada (2013)• Food guide compliance among adolescents from economically

disadvantaged families (2012)• Leveraging school nutrition policy• 6 provincial policies address access to food

• Learning from student nutrition program models• Programs and organizations, e.g., Canadian Children and Youth

Nutrition Program Network (http://feedtomorrow.ca/); Farm to Cafeteria Canada (http://www.farmtocafeteriacanada.ca/)

Stakeholders• What are the views of stakeholders re student nutrition

programs and how might they be involved in ‘raising the bar’?• Students• Parents• School teaching personnel and administrators• School food providers (food service – paid/volunteer, food

suppliers, and producers)• Funding government and non-governmental organizations and

their funders• Health, food, agriculture, and other personnel• District, provincial, and territorial school and health personnel• Policy-makers, politicians, and public opinion champions

Accountability and Monitoring• To whom are student nutrition programs accountable and for

what?• What data from program monitoring can assist with ‘raising

the bar’?• Clear accountability• Sharing and applying results from monitoring• Numbers of students, funding, funders• Program models, organization, and delivery• Impact on food intake, behaviour, learning, families,

communities, economics• Sustainability, challenges, and supports• Unintended consequences

Summary of Research Questions • What research offers the most compelling data to help Raise the

Bar on Student Food Programs?• How does problem identification influence current and proposed

actions and stakeholders?• If we had a better understanding of what is happening in student

nutrition, would it enable us to make a more compelling case?• What research is needed to address alternative views?• What are components of effective and sustainable models for

student nutrition in Canada?• What are the views of stakeholders re student nutrition programs

and how might they be involved in ‘raising the bar’?• To whom are student nutrition programs accountable and for what?• What data from program monitoring can assist with ‘raising the

bar’?

mmckenna@unb.ca506-451-6872