Our Role in School Food 

Since our early leadership in helping to develop breakfast programs across Nova Scotia, Nourish Nova Scotia has played an important role in strengthening and advocating for school food programs. Today, our work to support school food in Nova Scotia continues through advocacy, capacity building, food literacy, and fund development. Our role includes: 

Building the Future of School Food in Nova Scotia: As the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program grows, we want to ensure that it becomes the best program it can be and help to catalyze the full potential of school food in Nova Scotia. We are working with the Province of Nova Scotia to support program enhancement and expansion through a range of fund development activities. 

Food Literacy Programs & Resources: We develop food literacy programs that take place in the classroom and on school grounds - with the aim to cultivate nutrition knowledge, food skills, and healthy eating practices among youth. 

Advocating for School Food: We are an active member of the Coalition for Healthy School Food and serve as the host and coordinator of the Nova Scotia Chapter. 

Supporting Mi’kmaw Food Initiatives: We are working to support Mi’kmaw-led food initiatives in collaboration with Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, as well as Mi’kmaq schools, communities, and organizations. 

Supporting Breakfast Programs: We facilitate National funding in support of school breakfast programs and offer a range of resources for school staff and volunteers. 

Through our work, we are helping to ensure that nutritious food can be a part of every student’s school day, and that students have opportunities to learn about food and shape the food systems around them - whether it’s in the classroom, the cafeteria, or outside on school grounds. 

 School Food vs. School Lunch  

More about the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program 

In 2024, school food programs in Nova Scotia expanded significantly through a monumental investment by the Province of Nova Scotia in a universally accessible, ‘pay what you can’ School Lunch Program. This investment is a gamechanger for school food in Nova Scotia.  

Now more than ever, Nova Scotia’s school food program can be a catalyst to transform food systems in Nova Scotia and ultimately, the experiences that students have at school. One where more students can thrive at school because they’re well-nourished; Where food can be a vehicle for learning about health, community, and the environment; And, where school food is helping to drive a more resilient and self-reliant local food system. 

But this will take time, and a collective effort that includes government, communities, organizations, local businesses, and the private sector. Together, we can make Nova Scotia’s School Food Program the best it can be, with positive outcomes for students, communities, and our Province. 

With the launch of the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program, Nourish Nova Scotia is working with the Province of Nova Scotia to support its’ growth through a range of fund development activities.  This includes facilitating a School Food Infrastructure Grant Program with an Atlantic Food Organization Coalition, and the launch of a Nova Scotia School Food Fund in the Spring of 2025. The School Food Fund will help to ensure that schools are well-equipped to prepare, cook, and serve high-quality meals, and that every student can benefit from the program with regional menus that prioritize local food. To celebrate the many successes to date, we are also coordinating the creation of an annual cookbook with local stories and family-friendly recipes that draw on favorites from the school food program – with sales directed to food programs (Launching Fall 2025). 

Stay tuned for more updates around our work in School Food and sign up to our newsletter to receive these updates straight to your inbox.  

For more information, reach out to our School Food Project Co-Leads: 

Lindsay Corbin: linday.corbin@nourishns.ca 

Jenny Osburn: jenny.osburn@nourishns.ca 

Some favourite’s from the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program