The Vancouver School Board consistently works toward a vision that every student can access nourishing food at school. VSB also wants to ensure students and parents/caregivers can easily use VSB's food services and lunch programs with 21st-century technology. In support of students and their families, the food services department launched the VSB LunchSmart app.
"This is our first food-focused app and can be downloaded easily by students and used at a VSB-operated cafeteria," says Jackie Lee, Food Services Manager at the Vancouver School Board.
Previously, students would often use a family member's credit card or cash to pay for lunch at the cafeteria, and students enrolled in the subsidized LunchSmart meal program would show a Lunch card to the cashier. Parents, caregivers and students can load money directly into the app, and students on the LunchSmart program can add their LunchSmart cards.
"A benefit of having the app available for students is that they can load their LunchSmart cards directly onto the app," Lee explains. "Students who do not want to draw attention to using the LunchSmart meal program can use their card more subtly."
Food is a crucial factor to support student learning, well-being and health. "In this amalgamation of food and technology, we wanted something that supports the LunchSmart program, parents and everyone who gets food from their school cafeteria," says Lee. "Hunger limits the ability of students to engage in learning activities. School food programs can improve nutrition, academic and behavioural outcomes and help address food insecurity," he adds.
The project was successfully piloted last year at Gladstone Secondary and launched in 10 school cafeterias this school year. "Next for us is launching the last function of the app: online order, which will enable students to pre-order meals in advance and pick up their meal during lunch," Lee announces. The new feature will be piloted at Windermere Secondary and Vancouver Technical Secondary schools after the winter break.
In addition to new features, the app will grow to all 17 school cafeterias throughout the District next year. To download the app visit the Apple and Google Play stores.
