Considerations for diverse, equitable, and inclusive school food programs in the USA and Canada.

School food programs have been shown to support the nutrition of children and their long-term health outcomes in tandem with reducing nutritional inequities experienced by low-income, food insecure, and racialized populations. Understanding the specific needs and outcomes of these equity-deserving groups is crucial when enhancing program implementation and participation in school food programs. A scoping review of equitable, diverse, and inclusive considerations for school food programs was conducted on Canadian and American peer-reviewed and grey literature. The search strategy identified 18 peer-reviewed publications and three grey literature reports that supported the creation of five themes to be explored for school food programs: universal access, food preparation and delivery, sociocultural food preferences, partner involvement, and equitable nutrition. Analysis revealed that while literature surrounding these themes is developing, they serve as a crucial starting point for further research and consideration of the enhancement of school food programs. These themes can support the delivery of a program that is accessible to all students, accommodates their individualized needs, and is free of stigma.

Considerations for diverse, equitable, and inclusive school food programs in the USA and Canada. Journal Articles