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1. What is the Student Nutrition Program?

The Student Nutrition Program provides funding to breakfast, lunch and snack programs across Ontario for elementary and high school students. These programs are developed by schools and community agencies to meet local needs and are run mostly by volunteers, such as parents, teachers and school staff.

2. Can I make a donation? Can I volunteer?

Local fundraising is an important part of the Student Nutrition Program. Please contact your local lead agency to find out how you can contribute to or volunteer with your local program.

3. Why is the Student Nutrition Program important?

Good nutrition is critical to a child’s health, ability to learn and physical and emotional growth. Research shows that when students arrive at school hungry, they have trouble learning. Students learn better and behave better in school when they eat properly.

4. Who operates the Student Nutrition Program?

There are 15 lead agencies that are closely linked to a variety of communities across the province. They distribute funding to local programs. The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres also receives funding for Student Nutrition Programs to offer programs to children and youth where Akwe:go and Wasa Nabin programs take place.

5. What types of meals are offered?

Students are offered foods that are fresh, nutritious including vegetables and fruit. Programs avoid serving foods with processed trans-fats. Each community’s nutrition program is different. Your local program may offer one meal or a combination of breakfast, lunch and/or a morning or afternoon snack. Programs are encouraged to follow nutrition guidelines for each meal.

Where possible, programs are also encouraged to choose food that is made or grown in Ontario.

6. Who developed the nutritional guidelines?

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services developed the nutritional guidelines along with the:

• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Health Promotion
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• Dietitians of Canada
• Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health
• Public Health Units
• Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph

7. My child has a severe food allergy – will my child be at risk in a program?

The nutrition guidelines recommend that foods with peanuts or other nuts not be used since some children may have life-threatening allergies to nuts.

Each program is responsible for developing menus that serve the needs of the children in the program, including any dietary restrictions or food allergies. Local programs follow the policies of their school or community agency.

8. How much does the Student Nutrition Program cost?

The program has a universal approach at each site providing all children and youth with the opportunity to participate in the program regardless of their ability to pay. Some programs may ask parents to pay a small fee if they are able or take part in fundraising. No child is turned away based on their family’s ability to pay, fundraise or volunteer with the program.

9. What are community partners/sponsors/funders? What do they provide?

Student Nutrition Program funding comes from many sources: parent contributions, local fundraising, corporate sponsorship, local charities, municipalities and the province. Each local program needs community partners to successfully provide meals to students. If you are interested in being a partner in your community’s nutrition program, please contact your local lead agency.

10. How do I start a program in my school/community?

To find out more about what it takes to start a program, please contact your local lead agency.