Bridging nutrition and equity: policy enactment of free school meals across school contexts in Türkiye

This study examines how a targeted school meal program for transported students is enacted across different school contexts in Türkiye. Using a qualitative multiple-case design based on interviews with principals, teachers, and students, the study identifies three context-dependent enactment patterns: Restricted, Inclusive, and Affluent-Context Mismatch. The findings show that school meals function not only as nutritional support but also as socially embedded practices shaping inclusion and participation. While the program serves redistributive aims, selective eligibility and contextual conditions generate tensions related to fairness and uptake. The study highlights that effectiveness and equity depend on alignment between policy design, local context, and everyday school practices.