School lunches are about more than food

On why universal schemes are good for all of us

Mar 06, 2024

The MP for Epsom recently declared that he was keen to remove the current free school lunch program in low decile schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.

He uses the language of the neoliberal right, citing “cost” and “wasteful spending” and wanting “targeted interventions". He conveniently side-steps the existing evidence and claims the provision of school lunches “doesn’t work”. He only wants to provide free lunches to children whose academic scores increase while in receipt of food.

It’s a cruel, Dickensian approach hidden behind mealy mouthed words, designed to obscure that this government intends to take food from the hungry to give the already wealthy (in the form of tax breaks and tax cuts).

BBC One drama Dickensian promotory set and crew image — BBC One drama, Dickensian

Such comments conveniently overlook the wider societal benefits that come with providing school lunches to all students (a universal approach), not just the children from impoverished and marginalized households (targeted approach).

Ordinary, mundane, and unremarkable activities such as school lunches exist beyond simplistic, individualistic notions of transactional food-related behavior. Meal provisioning and consumption is entangled within webs of social interaction that are reproduced in the everyday life. The organization of everyday life refers to that which is visible (for example, eating lunch), and the symbolic meanings and values contained within (such as a sense of belonging). The latter can be difficult to adequately articulate because it is a deeply intuitive and subjectively felt occurrence.

Emplaced food-related practices, such as the communal eating of school lunches, are deeply connected to broader ways of being in the world1. They also embed a sense of belonging and sustain social relationships with others. The ability to engage in acts of sharing and exchange with regards to food is a key expression of care for others beyond those present2. In this way, leftover school lunches are not “waste” but through being shared with the wider community they engender a sense of connection and care.

These acts contribute to and maintain the social cohesion of schools and their wider communities. The absence of sufficient food to feed a child, oneself, or to participate in community activities ruptures important cultural practices and relationship activities thereby disrupting social cohesion3. This rupturing leaves people feeling out-of-place, and socially and culturally disconnected. The provision of plentiful food in the form of school lunches works to mend these ruptures.

The dignity and status of food-related practice goes beyond simplistic notions of cost-effective delivery of nutrients. Access to sufficient food to eat and the surrounding social practices are central to human flourishing.

diagram of four items central to providing food assistance; dignity, human right, impacts on disability often hidden, avoids retelling trauma story — Central tenets of food provisioning for human flourishing

So, what does ordinary, school lunch provisioning look like?

Below is one menu from the Bite Lab school lunch program, which provides meals to schools participating in Ka Ora, Ka Aho Healthy School Lunches.

Of note are the following:

The inclusivity of the menu through provisions for dietary needs so that all children can eat similar foods together and not feel isolated or different.
The menu extends kids palates while also having familiar foods.
Hot meals are provided too.
There is a variety of fruit and vegetables provided during the course of the week.
Meals are delivered to the school, requiring logistics planning and infrastructure.
Meals are made according to the appropriate MPI food safety codes and standards (crucial to avoid food poisoning!!)

The provision of universal school lunches is not about throwing cheap and easy food at kids. It's about ensuring the food is safe, is delivered on time to the right place, that those with dietary needs can eat, that nobody gets sick, and that the social stigma associated with targeted aid is avoided.

Universal school lunches foster social inclusion, positive connections between schools and communities (who do you think is making these lunches?!) and ensures that children from marginalized and/or impoverished communities are not further subjected to shame or stigma.

Dr Bex on Social Issues in Aotearoa NZ

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