Lunch Programs

Lunch programs are often associated with "vulnerable children" but lunch programs have proven to be ideal for all parents, who are increasingly busier all the time or may simply see the benefit of providing a hot lunch to children during the day. The benefit of any lunch program is that it provides a good square meal in the middle of the day, the best kind of "brain food." The concept makes life easier for parents and can target children's nutrition, always a concern. Students also benefit from eating together with less peer pressure from meal comparisons and other concerns.

At boarding schools, Montessori schools and other private schools, lunch programs are also available. Hot lunch programs are likely included in the price of the tuition. In some cases, these programs are run by private business who can save the schools on heating and cooking costs by serving multiple schools at the same time and presenting a wide variety of menu items that meet children's needs. In addition, schools may hire high quality catering companies who will present food choices that combine nutritional considerations with, in some cases, gourmet quality. These can give students the option of having a hot meal without some of the restrictions that might arise out of a cafeteria. This can also keep program costs down, for all concerned, including parents.

Even at private schools including non-profits and not-for-profits, lunch programs offer some distinct advantages:

• Prepared by professionals, these hot lunches are optimally nutritious and can help control children's caloric intake so they help reach and maintain an appropriate body weight.
• Focus on healthy eating such as roasted over fried foods.
• Provide education about healthy eating choices such as fresh fruits, advantages of grains, adherence to the Canada Food Guide, etc.
• Professionals with experience in catering school lunch programs may even be well-versed in getting children to eat healthy things they might not otherwise eat ( e.g. Brussels Sprouts slaw by any other name is still Brussels Sprouts slaw).

Lunch programs may be somewhat stigmatized in North America for having started with targeting low income families but in other countries, they can in fact be considered standard. For example, in Japan, it is the absolute norm for students to eat a school lunch or kyūshoku.

Schools listed below offer school lunch programs.