‘Great Big Crunch’ Highlights Push for National School Food Program
On March 26, 2026, thousands of students across Canada will take a synchronized “crunch” of fruits or vegetables as part of the annual Great Big Crunch, an event organized by the Coalition for Healthy School Food to promote healthy eating and draw attention to school food programs nationwide.
Held each March, the Great Big Crunch invites students, educators, families and communities to participate in a collective bite — often into apples or other fresh foods — to celebrate healthy eating and highlight school food initiatives across the country.
The event was launched in 2008 by FoodShare Toronto, a nonprofit focused on food access and community food programs. Since 2020, it has been coordinated nationally by the Coalition for Healthy School Food (CHSF), a pan-Canadian network of more than 380 nonprofit organizations, educators, health professionals, parents and advocates working to expand school food programs nationwide.
Children’s Health Defense Canada is among the coalition’s member organizations.
This year’s theme centres on student voices, with schools encouraged to give students an opportunity to share their ideas, experiences and hopes for food programs in their schools.
Push for a National School Food Program
For more than a decade, coalition members and community organizations have been advocating for a permanent national school food program that would ensure children across Canada have reliable access to healthy meals or snacks during the school day.
In 2024, the Government of Canada introduced a National School Food Policy and committed federal funding to support school food programs across the country. The proposed National School Food Program Act, introduced in Parliament in 2025, aims to further expand and coordinate these initiatives nationwide.
The goal is to build on programs already operating in many communities while gradually improving access to nutritious food for students across Canada.
Choosing Healthier Options
For families and schools planning to participate in the Great Big Crunch, CHD Canada encourages choosing organic fruits or vegetables whenever possible. Organic produce is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides, helping reduce children’s exposure to chemical residues that may be present on conventionally grown foods.
Choosing organic options — even occasionally — can help support healthier food environments for children while reinforcing the event’s focus on whole, nourishing foods. Read more:Organic Food — Why It’s Critical for Children’s Health.
Participants organize activities in classrooms, schoolyards and community spaces, joining others from coast to coast to coast in a collective show of support for healthy school food.
Schools and organizations interested in participating in the Great Big Crunch can learn more and register HERE.
To get involved with the CHSF in your province, click HERE.
Sources:
Coalition for Healthy School Food – Great Big Crunch
CHSF February 2026 Newsletter
Organic Food: Why It’s Critical for Children’s Health
Carney Makes School Food in Canada Permanent — But What Will Kids Actually Eat?
A New Chapter for School Food in Canada
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