Canada remains one of the few industrialized countries without a national school food program. Canada’s current patchwork of school food programming reaches only a small percentage of our over five million students. This briefs presents the healthy eating challenges and explains that: (i) School food programs increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods; (ii) School food programs support student health and wellness and school and community connectedness; (iii) School food programs contribute to student learning and success at school; (iv) School food programs can support local farmers and the economy by increasing jobs and procuring local food. Article également disponible en français.