The health, wellness, and academic achievement of students are a school’s top priority. This was recently highlighted in this year’s state of the state addresses, where 43% of governors across the country declared mental and physical health as top priorities for education in 2025.
Given this, schools should not underestimate the power of the cafeteria to serve as a learning environment. The cafeteria is not just a place for sustenance, but also provides an opportunity for students to learn about mental health, inclusivity, and overall well-being.
Nourishing minds: How food affects mood and mental health
Today’s students are navigating a world of new demands. Between homework, exams, extracurriculars, family activities and seeing friends, kids are busier than ever. Add to that the intense pressure of social media, and it’s no wonder Gen Z is stressed.
In fact, 58% of schools reported that the percentage of students seeking school-based mental health services increased during the 2023-2024 school year, according to a survey from the National Center for Education Statistics.
While there is no single solution to the mental health crisis, nutrition education programs offer a tangible method to support students. These programs help students make the connection between what they eat and how they feel.
At Huntington Beach Union High School District in California, local schools and their food service partner, Chartwells K12, offer a Mood Boost program that educates students on how the ingredients in their daily meals will affect their well-being, empowering them to make smart choices in and outside of the cafeteria. Mood Boost focuses on six mood categories— alert, calm, confident, happy, smart and strong—with emerging scientific evidence of how healthy eating patterns can positively support these feelings.
For example, custom recipes like raspberries with chocolate and basil (alert), broccoli salad with raisins (calm), and Portuguese pork bowl (strong) depict how foods directly correlate with mood and mental well-being. Students can even learn about specific ingredients—cabbage is rich in vitamin K, which helps with brain function, making it a great option when students are feeling hazy.
This education shows students how healthy eating habits can develop strong, healthy minds.
Cultivating understanding: Learning about inclusivity through different cultures
Beyond its role in fostering mental health, the school cafeteria serves as a unique cultural melting pot. It is often one of the first places a child gets to taste and learn about foods outside of their family’s recipes or traditional cultural dishes. Using new foods and flavors, schools can combine an element of education around different heritages and traditions to foster discussions among students of diverse backgrounds.
Children who experience cultural diversity typically have a stronger ability to consider multiple perspectives and solutions, according to studies from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
At Huntington Beach, students participate in a Global Eats program, which brings unique ingredients and authentic flavors from cuisines around the world directly to the cafeteria. With recipes from China, India, Italy, Mexico, Korea, and the Caribbean, along with school-wide events celebrating the Lunar New Year and Hispanic Heritage Month, students can enjoy new flavors while also learning about their origins.
Fun, educational, food-focused programs that celebrate these different traditions, heritages, and customs help create deeper bonds and understanding between classmates and friends.
Empowering agency: Taking accountability for physical well-being
School cafeterias also provide many opportunities for students to exercise independent choice—from what to drink to what to eat to where to sit. Decision-making is a crucial skill for students to learn, and educators can use this as an opportunity for students to learn how their choices impact their well-being.
When children have choices and input regarding meals, they’re more likely to eat school lunches and enjoy them, according to a 2024 study from the American Journal of Health Education.
By allowing students to give input on what they’d like to see on their lunch menus, or simply giving them a variety of meal options to choose from, students become actively engaged in the decision-making process. Providing students with the power of choice in the cafeteria is another unique and effective way to change the in-school dining experience, transforming it from a passive space to an active learning environment.
This not only helps students learn to exercise their power in making decisions, but also shows them how thoughtful, everyday meal choices can affect their energy and physical well-being.
Like every other classroom and space at school, the cafeteria should be recognized as a place brimming with learning opportunities. Dining areas thrive as fun, personalized environments that introduce students to new experiences that enhance their overall mental health, wellness and academic achievement.
Developing healthy habits, expanding world-views and learning about autonomy can occur outside of the classroom, too. Educators, administrators, and parents should view cafeterias as another integral place at school to engage minds and teach habits and lessons that stay with students throughout their lives.
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