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The non-existent or haphazard nature of children’s lunch room infrastructure at schools has long bewildered me as a parent, especially in comparison with how some countries have widespread and stable programs to feed children at school or teach them food preparation. Food is about nutrition, but also about community and sustainability.
Especially given stark figures about child poverty, this week’s federal announcement about funding a national school food program are welcome. Today in The Conversation Canada, Amberley T. Ruetz and Rachel Engler-Stringer of University of Saskatchewan write about how as “a late-comer to establishing a National School Food Program, Canada has a unique opportunity to learn from the missteps of other countries.”
Among several priorities, they share how adequate school food infrastructure and well-trained and well-paid school food staff are key to success.
Also today:
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau next to the chef and other people at the Boys and Girls Club East Scarborough, in Toronto, before an announcement to launch a National School Food Program, April 1, 2024.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Amberley T. Ruetz, University of Saskatchewan; Rachel Engler-Stringer, University of Saskatchewan
Researchers and co-chairs of the Canadian Association for Food Studies’ School Food Working Group explain what Ottawa should prioritize to ensure its national school food program succeeds.
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One in four Canadians between the ages of 19 and 70 balances paid employment with caregiving responsibilities.
(Shutterstock)
Allison Williams, McMaster University
Canadians can make National Caregiver Day count by celebrating carer-employees and supporting the creation of carer-friendly supports in the workplace.
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An image of GAL-CLUS-022058s — the largest and one of the most complete Einstein rings ever discovered.
(ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Jha)
Martin Connors, Athabasca University
Observations during historical solar eclipses confirmed Einstein’s theory of gravity, and led to the predictions of black holes.
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Changes to the composition and diversity of the microorganisms in the gut may explain differences in immune system aging.
(Shutterstock)
Narveen Jandu, University of Waterloo
The gut microbiome and immune system work closely together. However, as people age, the composition and balance of microorganisms in the gut changes, with fewer beneficial bacteria.
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A Toronto police officer adjusts police tape at the scene of a quadruple shooting in downtown Toronto in September 2023.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Irvin Waller, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Jeffrey Bradley, Carleton University
There are proven ways to significantly reduce violent crime within the next five years. It requires becoming not “tough on crime,” but “smart on crime” before it happens.
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Une fusée Falcon 9 de SpaceX décolle de la rampe de lancement 39-A du Centre spatial Kennedy, le 18 janvier 2024, à Cap Canaveral (Floride). Quatre astronautes privés se rendent à la Station spatiale internationale.
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Daniel Fillion, Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)
L’exploration spatiale n’est pas un gaspillage de ressources, mais permet des avancées technologiques et médicales, une surveillance climatique et une inspiration éducative bénéfique pour les jeunes.
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Culture + Society
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Kendra Thomas, Hope College
Optimism can rely on a sense of luck, while hope is action-oriented − and often aimed at helping other people.
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Health
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Stuart Ainsworth, University of Liverpool
The World Health Organization recently recognised noma as a ‘neglected tropical disease’.
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Science + Tech
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Caroline Wagner, The Ohio State University
Science rankings rely on papers in academic journals. Broadening the view to include many more open-access journals will upend the usual order – thanks to China’s vast number of publications.
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