Planetary Health on the Menu at School by Équiterre
What if change began in our schools? With their project Planetary Health on the Menu in Greater Montreal Schools, Équiterre and its partners are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of school food services while improving the nutritional quality of the meals offered to students in Greater Montréal. The vision: menus that give local and sustainable foods the place they truly deserve.
Grant $50,000
Category Capacity building
Type NPO
Organization Équiterre
Year 2026-2027
Status In progress
15
pioneering schools in Greater Montréal involved in the project.
25,000
young people and their families who will have made changes to their diet.
165
schools in Greater Montréal targeted through the scaling up of the project.
100,000
children benefiting from planetary health menus through the scaling up of the project.
600
schools across Quebec involved in the province-wide initiative led by Équiterre.
Sustainable food
Putting planetary health menus front and center!
For 20 years, Équiterre has been dedicated to promoting healthy, local, and eco-responsible food. Supported by a grant from the Greater Montreal Climate Fund, the organization is continuing its efforts by offering 15 pioneering schools the opportunity to integrate menus into their food services that are both nutritious and respectful of ecosystem limits, while measuring the associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Équiterre then aims for a major scale-up. Its ambition: to empower 165 schools across the territory to follow suit in this initiative at the intersection of human health and planetary health, through a toolkit and a structured training pathway.
To achieve a lasting, system-level impact, Équiterre will mobilize school communities and the entire food supply chain, and will rely on numerous strategic partners, including Breakfast Club of Canada and La Cantine pour tous. Équiterre is committed to keeping the principles of reconciliation alive throughout the project.
Quote
Quote from the Équiterre team
Changing what’s on the school menu is not just about food. It’s a concrete step for health, for the environment — and for the future of an entire generation. By giving more space to nutritious and sustainable foods, especially plant-based proteins, we are nourishing today’s children while laying the foundations for a fairer, healthier, and more resilient world.
Geneviève Chatelain
Project Manager, Sustainable Food
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