CITYnews halifax: School lunch program expands to all public schools this September

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

The province says it is expanding its school lunch program to all public schools this September.

Nova Scotia said that lunches will be available in all 372 public schools across the province, offering more than 133,000 students access to food during the school day.

“The full rollout of the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is a significant milestone,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “More students than ever will have access to nutritious meals that help them learn, grow and succeed, while families benefit from lower food costs.”

This final phase of the program involves expanding it to high schools, which will manage their own operations rather than contracting external vendors.

Menus for the 2026-27 school year will include new options like chicken Caesar wraps, chicken fried rice, ramen-style noodle bowls and salads.

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“This program makes it easier for our families and our students to access and order food during the day. Cafeteria staff have been following the upcoming menu and getting positive reviews from students on the exciting new meal options,” Todd Symes, principal, Liverpool Regional High School, said in the release.

According to the province, more than 12 million meals have been served to students across Nova Scotia since the program was originally launched in October 2024.

Summer break highlights food insecurity

With school out, access to food becomes more difficult for many families.

Ash Avery, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia, says the end of school food programs and other services means thousands of food-insecure children face greater challenges in the months ahead.

“Nova Scotia has the second-highest rate of children under 18 living in food-insecure households across Canada,” she said. “That looks like about 71,000 kids that are lacking food access every single day.”

Financial donations make a big difference, Avery said, allowing food banks to purchase the items they know are most needed.

The non-profit feeds more than 23,000 people each month by supporting 140 food banks, shelters, soup kitchens, and meal programs across Nova Scotia.

That number represents 52 per cent more people than the non-profit supported in 2022.