Province adds $3 million for healthy school lunches

Ontario is helping more children and youth eat nutritious meals at school.

As part of the Healthy Kids Strategy, the province is investing an extra $3 million in Ontario’s student nutrition program to create more than 200 new breakfast and morning meal programs for about 33,000 kids in higher-needs communities, including First Nations communities.

“Nutritious snacks and meals are critical to the success of every child, so this expansion really is an investment in our families and our future. We want all Ontario children to reach their full potential and help build a stronger, more prosperous Ontario”, said Teresa Piruzza, Minister of Children and Youth Services.

This increased funding will also support the hiring of 14 food distribution and logistics coordinators across the province. Coordinators will work with new and existing programs to build stronger partnerships with local businesses and food distribution networks resulting in more efficient channels to purchase, transport and store food.

The Student Nutrition Program has been shown to influence overall student health and improve learning and behavioural outcomes. A recent research report found that more than three-quarters of high school students who eat breakfast regularly are on track to graduate, while suspension rates have decreased by half since the implementation of these programs.

During the 2011-12 school year, over 690,000 elementary and secondary school students across the province benefited from more than 4,100 breakfast, lunch and snack programs.