Edmonton doctor urges parents to tackle lunchbox shaming

Back to school is around the corner and this year one Edmonton doctor says it’s the time to talk to your kids about the reality of lunchbox shaming.

“That’s when other people in the classroom make fun of their lunches because it may smell different, it may look different, or it just may be something that other people in the classroom haven’t seen before,” said Dr. Stephanie Liu, assistant clinical professor at the University of Alberta.

Liu says homemade meals often reflect someone’s culture, tradition, or socio-economic status, and having that mocked can have lasting consequences.

According to a study commissioned by Sistema Canada, one in every four Canadian kids has faced lunchbox shaming, which disproportionately affects racialized communities, including those with Black, Asian, or Latino backgrounds.

Liu, who shares advice online with her “doctor mom” blog, recommends talking to your children about what’s in their lunch.

She also encourages respectful curiosity with new foods, to help prevent developing anxiety around a mundane task like eating, which can have impacts on a kid’s self-esteem, nutrition and comfort with their culture in school.

“You can tell that there’s an excitement,” said Dr. Liu. “There’s interest to learn about what that type of food is, what the appearance is like, what the smells are like, and I think that’s something different than shaming and bullying, because in shaming and bullying, I think there’s more of an intent to embarrass.”

If your kid experiences lunchbox shaming, Dr. Liu suggests letting your kid have a say on what goes in their lunch, meeting in the middle with the best of both worlds, and balancing nutrition with what’s cool for school.