As the 2024-25 school year comes to a close, Nova Scotia is looking ahead to the fall with plans on improving the school lunch program.
In an email sent to families, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education says the program is not only expanding into all junior high and middle schools in the province for the 2025-26 school year, but it’s also getting a new “kid approved” menu.
The program started this past fall but with a phased-in approach, so only schools that had elementary grades were eligible.
Families had the option of paying $6.50 per day, or nothing at all, depending on what they could afford.
Meals offered came from local vendors with 40 different lunches for 75,000 students.
Minister of Education Brendan Maguire says over 2 million meals have been served but food waste is a big thing.
“We want to make sure that children have a full belly. So, we are reviewing, have reviewed and we’re looking at changes to the menu,” says Maguire.
Meals offered included things like tacos, burritos, pizza, sweet and sour meatballs, pasta, chili and even finger foods – and everything had a vegetarian option.
Photo: Communications Nova Scotia
HRCE says the changes are coming after receiving feedback from school communities.
Other improvements in the program will be focused on packing, ordering and delivery standards.
