Kennedy Collegiate Students Premiere “Food for Thought” Documentary

On June 10, 2025, the Student Nutrition Advocacy Committee – Kennedy (SNAC-K) proudly premiered their student-produced documentary, Food for Thought, at the Windsor Armouries. The film explores the critical role of sustainable school nutrition programs and underscores the importance of student voice in shaping a national conversation on food equity.

Created in partnership with the Coalition for Healthy School Food, the Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP), the United Way Windsor-Essex, and local filmmakers from the University of Windsor, the documentary is a bold call to action. It invites communities, educators, and policymakers to see school food not as charity, but as smart public policy.

“Food insecurity is linked to lower academic performance, increased behavioural challenges, and a greater risk of anxiety and depression,” said Lorraine Goddard, CEO of United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham Kent. “These effects don’t stop at the school gate. They follow young people into adulthood, shaping their health, opportunities, and even their ability to lift themselves up. The good news is, we can change this.”

Kennedy Collegiate has already made significant strides, offering a free breakfast program, a “grab and go” snack initiative, and a subsidized hot lunch two days per week. These efforts are led and supported by students who understand firsthand the barriers many of their peers face.

“Nutrition is not just about feeding bodies,” said Kennedy Principal Kyle Berard. “It’s about fueling the minds of our youth, nurturing their potential, and building stronger, more equitable communities.”

Following the screening, students, staff, and community leaders gathered for a panel discussion and reception. Danielle Findlay from the Ontario Student Nutrition Program praised the students’ leadership, noting that “Kennedy is only one of four schools in Canada that the Coalition for Healthy Schools embarked on this special student engagement project with. Like OSNP, the Coalition for Healthy Schools embraces the “nothing about us without us” principle, meaning we recognize that programs are designed best when there is space at the table for those with lived experience. Giving the students a voice lets them be seen and heard.”

The students behind Food for Thought have worked tirelessly to develop, support, and promote nutrition programs at their school while advocating for change at a national level. Their message is clear: access to nutritious food is a right, and investment in school food programs is an investment in Canada’s future.

“It’s about access, education, and the system that either supports or fails us,” said Grade 12 student Majd Ishoaibi. “Good food fuels not just our bodies, but our futures. We can all make a difference if we try.”

Watch the Film