School meals and snacks in Canadian primary schools: assessing diet quality among schoolchildren

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Publicado en:European Journal of Public Health vol. 35, no. Supplement_4 (Oct 2025)
Autor principal: Grubic, N
Otros Autores: Dabravolskaj, J, Veugelers, P J, Maximova, K
Publicado:
Oxford University Press
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024 7 |a 10.1093/eurpub/ckaf161.1046  |2 doi 
035 |a 3265307678 
045 2 |b d20251001  |b d20251031 
084 |a 53202  |2 nlm 
100 1 |a Grubic, N  |u Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; nicholas.j.grubic@gmail.com 
245 1 |a School meals and snacks in Canadian primary schools: assessing diet quality among schoolchildren 
260 |b Oxford University Press  |c Oct 2025 
513 |a General Information 
520 3 |a Background School food programs (SFPs) are an effective strategy for improving children's diet. Canada does not have a national SFP but rather a patchwork of school food offerings, and their impact on children's diet is unknown. This study assessed the diet quality of Canadian primary schoolchildren who accessed meals and snacks provided by school. Methods We surveyed 2,366 students aged 9-14 years (49% girls) from 32 schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in two Canadian provinces. Using a 24-hour diet recall, students recorded foods and beverages consumed for meals (breakfast, lunch) and snacks (morning, afternoon) during school hours. Students also indicated whether the meal or snack was provided by their school (yes/no). Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Index - International (DQI-I) score (ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher diet quality) and its components (adequacy, variety, balance, moderation). Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association of school-provided meals and snacks with diet quality. Results Only 293 (12%) students consumed at least one school-provided meal or snack during school hours. These students most often consumed school-provided morning snack (43%) and least often breakfast (18%). Consuming at least one meal or snack provided by school was associated with a higher overall DQI-I score (β = 1.8, 95% CI = 0.7 to 3.0), as well as higher component scores for variety (β = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.1 to 0.9) and adequacy (β = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.4 to 1.5). Consuming snacks provided by school was associated with higher overall DQI-I scores (morning snack β = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.5 to 3.8; afternoon snack β = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.1 to 5.1); no significant associations were found for breakfast or lunch provided by school. Conclusions School meals and snacks, though consumed by only one in eight primary schoolchildren, may contribute to better diet quality, with the greatest impact observed for snacks. Key messages • The availability of meals and snacks provided by schools in Canada was low, with only one in eight primary schoolchildren having consumed school meals or snacks. • Diet quality was higher among students who consumed school meals or snacks than those who did not, with the greatest benefit observed for snacks. 
651 4 |a Canada 
653 |a Beverages 
653 |a Students 
653 |a At risk populations 
653 |a Diet 
653 |a Schools 
653 |a Regression analysis 
653 |a Regression models 
653 |a School meals 
653 |a Children 
653 |a Girls 
653 |a Meals 
653 |a Disadvantaged 
653 |a Adequacy 
653 |a Lunches 
653 |a Quality assessment 
653 |a Food 
653 |a Food programs 
653 |a Snack foods 
653 |a Snacks 
653 |a Elementary schools 
653 |a Breakfast 
653 |a Drinks 
653 |a Moderation 
653 |a Social 
700 1 |a Dabravolskaj, J  |u MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada 
700 1 |a Veugelers, P J  |u School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 
700 1 |a Maximova, K  |u MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 
773 0 |t European Journal of Public Health  |g vol. 35, no. Supplement_4 (Oct 2025) 
786 0 |d ProQuest  |t ABI/INFORM Global 
856 4 1 |3 Citation/Abstract  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3265307678/abstract/embedded/7BTGNMKEMPT1V9Z2?source=fedsrch 
856 4 0 |3 Full Text - PDF  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3265307678/fulltextPDF/embedded/7BTGNMKEMPT1V9Z2?source=fedsrch