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.