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Abstract

This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of not eating lunch on school days among Canadian children using dietary data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey- Nutrition (n = 2,991 children aged 6–17 years). On a given school day, more than 1 in 20 students reported eating no lunch. Students were more likely to miss lunch if they were older, lived in a food insecure household, or smoked. Sex, ethnicity, income and weight status were not associated with lunch consumption. Future research is needed to fully understand the frequency, causes and consequences of missing lunch on school days in Canada.