Belonging, identity, inclusion, and togetherness: the lesser-known social benefits of food for children and young people

Today’s young people face a myriad of changes around how they connect, socialise, and come together with each other and with their families. Shifts in family working patterns, living arrangements, and technology have been blamed for rising rates of loneliness, mental health concerns, and other negative outcomes. While research is yet to pinpoint the exact outcomes of these socio-cultural shifts, what remains is a compelling and telling body of research around the importance of belonging and the role that food plays in meeting this fundamental human need particularly in school settings. A sense of belonging is defined as feeling like one is an integral part of their surrounding systems, including their family, friends, school, work environment, community, and physical places. The role of food in fostering a feeling of belonging has been well established but discrepantly discussed across various disciplines. Research also points to certain situations where food may also disrupt a student’s sense of belonging. This chapter seeks to narratively explore the importance of food for fostering a sense of belonging at school through several perspectives to create an interdisciplinary understanding. These perspectives represent a narrative synthesis of the literature exploring the importance of food, its implications for special populations as well as its relevance during times of crisis.