Awareness of and Participation in School Food Programs in Youth from Six Countries

Background School-based meal programs may promote healthy dietary intake among youth. However, limited data exist regarding the impact of income-targeted school meal programs across countries, particularly among food insecure youth. Objectives To examine self-reported awareness of and participation in free school meal programs, and associations with dietary intake among youth from six countries with differing national school meal policies. Methods Data were collected through the 2019 International Food Policy Study (IFPS) Youth Survey, a cross-sectional survey of 10,565 youth aged 10-17 y from Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). Regression models examined: 1) country differences in awareness of and participation in breakfast and lunch programs; and 2) associations between lunch program participation and intake of fruit and vegetables, and 'less healthy' foods during the previous school lunch day. Results Awareness of and participation in free breakfast and lunch programs varied across countries. Approximately half of US and Chilean students participated in school lunch programs-the countries with the most comprehensive national policies-compared to one fifth of students in the UK, and approximately 5% in Australia, Canada, and Mexico (P < 0.001 for all contrasts). In the US and Chile, more than two thirds of youth with the highest level of food insecurity participated in lunch programs, compared to 45% in the UK, 27% in Canada, and 20% or less in Australia and Mexico. In all countries, youth reporting school lunch program participation were more likely to report fruit and vegetable intake during their previous school lunch (P < 0.001), and higher intake of 'less healthy' food in all countries except the US and Chile. Conclusions More comprehensive national policies were associated with greater participation in school meals programs, particularly among youth at greatest risk of food insecurity, as well as healthier dietary intake from school lunch.