Feeding Diversity: Toward Culturally Sustaining School Food (Poster 15)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Friday 3:20 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Division G: Section 2 Poster Session

Abstract

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program allocate approximately $22.6 billion annually to provide meals to millions of students in the United States (School Nutrition Association, 2023). Despite this investment, there is a lack of research on optimizing mealtimes to sustain students' cultural identities and provide culturally appropriate foods. Through this conceptual paper, I explore existing theories, including Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) and food sovereignty, to theorize how students' cultural identities can be better supported by providing access to culturally appropriate foods. By incorporating these principles, schools can foster a sense of inclusion and respect among students, which may enhance students' cultural empathy and create a more supportive educational landscape.

Author

• Damhee Dee Dee Hong, University of California - Santa Barbara