Episode 38: Transforming School Food: Learning, Celebrating, and Nourishing Through Every Bite, with Jesse Veenstra

We’re joined by Jesse Veenstra, Executive Director of Farm to Cafeteria Canada, to explore how food can be a powerful entry point for education, connection, and community building in schools.Farm to Cafeteria Canada is a pan-Canadian, partnership-based organization with a mission to transform how food is experienced, learned, and celebrated in schools across Canada.Long before her career in public health, Jesse’s love for food and community was shaped by her childhood in rural Ontario, where she learned the value of growing, cooking, and gathering around food. That early connection continues to guide her commitment to sustainable food systems and local resilience.In this episode, we unpack:The role of school food programs in helping students become engaged, informed citizens with a deeper understanding of community, culture, and equityA holistic approach to food literacy that teaches essential life skills through hands-on experiencesJesse’s reflections on why food is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect students to each other, to the environment, and to shape their futures Tune in to discover how we can raise the next generation of eaters, thinkers, and changemakers, and why investing in school food is investing in a healthier, more resilient generation!Save the date for the National School Food Conference - Spring 2026.Resources:Website: https://www.farmtocafeteriacanada.caNewsletter Sign Up: https://www.farmtocafeteriacanada.ca/news/newsletters-2/Canada’s National School Food Policy:  https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/school-food/reports/national-policy.htmlCoalition for Healthy School Food:  https://www.healthyschoolfood.ca