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Student Nutrition Program

Nutritious food helps kids learn. Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program responds to that need. By providing healthy breakfasts, snacks, and lunches at many of our schools, kids are better able to concentrate, and get the most out of – and put the most into – their school day. The program is made possible through volunteers and community partnerships. As part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, Ontario invested an additional $32 million over three years in the Student Nutrition Program beginning in 2008.

The new investment in 2008 will support the creation of approximately 700 new breakfast programs and the expansion of 300 existing programs in communities with the highest need.

The programs are developed by schools and community agencies and are run by volunteers such as parents, teachers and community agencies. Programs follow the newly updated Student Nutrition Program Nutrition Guidelines that the Ministry of Children and Youth Services has developed along with its partners including:

• 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, and
• Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph.

Programs are encouraged to follow the Nutrition Guidelines which help providers choose nutritious foods for breakfast, lunch and snacks.