Mental Health Matters
There are many connections between the food we eat and our mental wellbeing. Our relationships to food are rich and complex; food access and diet culture can be a tremendous stressor in our daily lives. However, food can serve as an amazing way to connect with our community and build resiliency.
Children and youth benefit when the adults in their lives help to build community through food. Nourish is dedicated to supporting and strengthening the amazing school food work happening here in Nova Scotia. School food, like breakfast programs, play a key role in supporting the mental health of students. Not only does it fuel students for their learning day, but it also creates opportunities for students to engage with staff, take on leadership roles, learn cooking skills and experience a sense of belonging in their school community.
We know nourishing food in schools can help learners thrive. That’s why we’re advocating for the development of a cost-shared, pan-Canadian school food program that meets the diverse needs of Nova Scotia school communities. A federal investment along with increased provincial support is needed for school food programming to grow.
You can learn more about this work and how to get involved by visiting the Nova Scotia Advisory of the Coalition for Healthy School Food page.