Hungry Kids Can’t Learn: Why Cutting School Meal Programs Hurts Us All

 Hungry Kids Can’t Learn: Why Cutting School Meal Programs Hurts Us All

By Zipolita (Tina Winterlik)

It’s 2025, and I still can’t believe we’re having to educate people—again—on something as basic as this: kids need to eat to learn.

Vancouver just announced it’s slashing school meal program funding from $320,000 to $162,500. That’s nearly half. City staff say the province will step in, but any parent who's been in the system knows how easily support disappears into red tape.

For families like mine, this hits hard. When my daughter was in school, I was a single mom with almost no money. Making lunches every day was not only stressful—it was a battle. I had to work around peanut allergy bans, stretch my grocery budget to the last crumb, and pray that what I packed would be enough.

But it wasn’t just about having something to eat—it was about keeping her from crashing. Hypoglycemia runs in our family, and it can be brutal. When blood sugar drops, so do focus, mood, and energy. I had to educate my daughter’s teachers about this condition and eventually got them to post a sign in the gym outlining the symptoms: dizziness, confusion, mood swings, even fainting. These aren’t bad kids. They’re hungry kids. And too often, they’re misunderstood or punished instead of supported.

Studies from across Canada show that universal school meal programs lead to better attendance, fewer behavioural issues, and stronger academic performance. It’s not rocket science. You can’t expect a child to focus on math when they haven’t had breakfast.

But while we’re on the topic of food in schools, we need to dream bigger.

It’s not enough to just feed kids—we need to teach them what real food is, where it comes from, and how to grow it. That was my dream when my daughter was young. I envisioned school gardens: kids learning how to plant seeds, harvest veggies, trade or sell the food, build community, reconnect with the land, and feel empowered. Lululemon donated $10,000 back then, but the money was wasted on four raised boxes that barely produced anything. A whole field sat there waiting—but now it’s gone. They tore down Henry Hudson Elementary and are building over what could’ve been a living classroom.

We keep missing these golden opportunities. And we pay the price in rising child poverty, disconnection from nature, and undernourished minds in overcrowded classrooms.

So here’s my call to action:

• Restore and expand school meal funding.
• Make meals universal—no child should be stigmatized for being hungry.
• Improve food quality—less processed junk, more whole and local food.
• Teach nutrition and body awareness in class.
• Build school gardens and food programs rooted in sustainability, community, and equity.

Let’s stop cutting corners when it comes to feeding the future. Food is a right, not a reward. And hungry kids can’t wait.