Praise for the school lunch program! 

By this time of year, most parents have had it with trying to come up with lunches that their kids will eat.  They are overwhelmed with the cost of “lunch can food” that they will eat and disheartened at the food that gets wasted.  It’s a little like packing a toolbox for the space shuttle program when you are a bicycle mechanic: what are the new rules around microwaves, allergies, and time to eat?  How many more pieces of cutlery can I send to school before we are eating with our hands at home?  If they lose their lunch can on the school bus one more time, is the bus driver going to throw it out the window?  Keeping track of these things can be worse than the fight over homework!

I say, praise for the school lunch program!  Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have programs available to all elementary school students. Many other provinces have programs that are not yet universal or primarily offer breakfast and snacks. A national school food program is being developed, and all 13 provinces and territories have signed on to receive federal funding to expand existing programs and develop new ones. In a world of rocketing expenses for families, it is reassuring that children can access a hot, healthy lunch program and their parents pay what they can.

I had the good fortune to visit schools in Finland, a country where the education system and levels of physical activity among children and young people rank among the top in the world.  After touring schools and presenting in classrooms and auditoriums, I was able to say that the work being initiated in Nova Scotia’s school system closely mirrors their system and if we can continue on our current trajectory of educational reform that focuses on equity, brain-based learning and the importance of relationships, we will find ourselves in good stead.  

I really enjoyed the invitation for lunch because there was no need to bring catering in; “why ever would you do that with the cafeteria downstairs?"  Adults and students eat together.  The meal that no one turned their noses up at was white fish, boiled potatoes, and steamed green beans.  To drink, there was water and milk.  No ultra-processed, high-sugar, fatty foods, and no fuss.  “This is how we eat,”  was the answer when I asked if students brought their own lunches or skipped out for lunch across the street.  “Why would they do that?”  … It was also the response  when I observed the lack of lunch supervision: “We all eat together; we respect each other and the space.”  As for the high school students, "they are young adults, why would they need supervision?"   

The school counselor explained to me that the current situation was more of a positive, unintended consequence of policies that hadn’t been changed since the 1940s. Finland started providing free school lunches to address post-war malnutrition.  He suggested that while the policy was officially to ensure all children had access to a nutritious meal to support learning and promote equality, another reason was that they needed healthy youth to fight for their country.   All these years later, the policy remains, and learners are used to eating healthily.  

It will take time, but we will get there.  With a focus on quality, healthy food, we will see differences in our learners ability to focus and be satiated.  There is hope for the future.  

If you are still providing your child’s lunch, we are adding some idea sheets for lunches that your children might enjoy.  Pro Tip:  Create categories of food and have the kids pick something from each category to create their menu for the week; ex: protein, vegetable, carb, drink, etc.  If they participate in the decisions, you are likely to see fewer foods coming home, and if you do it regularly, it ought to help with grocery shopping.  (Fingers crossed!)  

What awesome suggestions do you have for the community?  Who has some good slow-cooker recipes or never-fail left over favourites that kids love?