Food for thought: how NZ’s school lunch programme can add learning and local economies to the menu
Food for Thought: How NZ’s School Lunch Programme Can Add Learning and Local Economies to the Menu
The Current State of Affairs
The government’s changes to the Ka Ora, Ka Ako-Healthy School Lunches Programme have sparked passionate debates among those closest to the issue. The programme, designed to save NZ$107 million a year, has been criticized for potentially providing less nutritious meals by relying more on packaged and processed foods. Hot meals are also set to be removed from the menu from next year.
A Deeper Exploration
What seems to have been overlooked is the potential for an expanded food programme to make a real difference in schools and communities. Research has shown strong support for doubling the number of schools covered by Ka Ora, Ka Ako, and the links between good nutrition and better educational outcomes are well established.
Extending the Programme
Extending the lunch programme to include the entire school population – students, teachers, and principal – would remove any stigma attached to participation. This would foster strong social bonds and encourage a culture of healthy eating and gratitude towards those preparing the meals. Beyond the school gates, this could build connections with whanau and family, and with local growers and food suppliers.
Working Examples
There are already working examples of this approach. Ross Intermediate School in Palmerston North prepares hot meals for pupils in an on-site kitchen, reducing food waste and redirecting excess food to families in need or community food rescue organisations. Similarly, at Dannevirke High, the wharekai (kitchen and dining area) has become the heart of the school and a source of whanaungatanga (sense of connection) between the school and its community.
Integrating Lunch Preparation with Classroom Teaching
Developing Ka Ora, Ka Ako further in these directions would integrate lunch preparation with classroom teaching and learning. The menu would become part of the curriculum at appropriate levels, and include teaching opportunities around:
- Preparation of hot meals
- Developing school gardens to supply the kitchen, along the lines of the existing Enviroschools programme
- Earning food technology credits at intermediate and high school level through involvement in meal preparation
- Menu planning and barista training that would support hospitality careers
Building a Better System
Currently, Ka Ora, Ka Ako offers a range of delivery models based on supplier partnerships and on-site meal preparation. However, our examination of sustainable food production and consumption suggests the system could better coordinate local food producers and caterers as spokes of a local food economy. A recent evaluation of iwi and hapū as suppliers highlighted the importance of fostering partnerships that build local capabilities.
Conclusion
Ka Ora, Ka Ako is the largest nutrition intervention in Aotearoa New Zealand in decades. It deserves to grow and realize its full potential. By integrating lunch preparation with classroom teaching and learning, and building partnerships with local food producers and caterers, the programme can support experiential learning, build practical skills, strengthen communities, and nurture local food production.
FAQs
Q: What are the benefits of extending the school lunch programme to include the entire school population?
A: Extending the programme would remove any stigma attached to participation, foster strong social bonds, and encourage a culture of healthy eating and gratitude towards those preparing the meals.
Q: How can the programme be integrated with classroom teaching and learning?
A: The menu could become part of the curriculum at appropriate levels, and include teaching opportunities around preparation of hot meals, developing school gardens, earning food technology credits, and menu planning and barista training.
Q: What are the potential benefits of building partnerships with local food producers and caterers?
A: Building partnerships could enable schools to become hubs that build and sustain local economies, support experiential learning, build practical skills, strengthen communities, and nurture local food production.
Q: What is the current state of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme?
A: The programme has been criticized for potentially providing less nutritious meals by relying more on packaged and processed foods, and hot meals are set to be removed from the menu from next year.
