Exploring Students' Perspectives and Experiences on Healthy Eating: A Basis for Developing School Policies to Enhance Food Literacy in School Canteens

Healthy eating plays a vital role in adolescent development and overall well-being. However, in many school canteens in Maguindanao del Norte, access to nutritious food options remains limited. Despite the presence of food literacy education, students often struggle to make healthy food choices due to environmental constraints and social influences. This study, titled "Exploring Students' Perspectives and Experiences on Healthy Eating: A Basis for Developing School Policies to Enhance Food Literacy in School Canteens," aimed to examine the lived experiences and views of secondary students regarding healthy eating and food literacy in selected schools. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews with purposively selected participants. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: (1) healthy eating is commonly associated with the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and clean food; (2) students’ food choices are influenced by price, availability, and peer pressure; (3) schools promote healthy eating through lessons but lack consistent reinforcement in canteen practices; (4) barriers include limited healthy options and a poor understanding of food labels; and (5) students recommend awareness campaigns, better canteen offerings, and stronger policy implementation. The findings emphasize that while students recognize the importance of healthy eating, systemic barriers hinder their ability to act on this knowledge. These insights provide a strong foundation for crafting school-based policies aimed at improving food literacy and the overall nutritional environment.