Alberta's School Nutrition Program could receive some extra funding, if Budget 2025 passes.
The federal Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, and Alberta's Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides have recently come to an agreement, with over $42 million in funding to be provided for programs that provide nutritious meals daily that follow the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth.
This funding will supplement the existing School Nutrition Program.
Not only that, but if Budget 2025 gets passed, there will be an additional $20 million allocated to the School Nutrition program, which will help to fund meals in schools, which feed over 58,000 students each year in participating schools across the province, including schools with the Foothills School Division (FSD).
The funding through this program is flexible, so local school boards can use the funding to support the nutritional needs of students and families, as well as building strong connections within the community.
"The continued commitment to support student well-being and learning, through the Canada-Alberta National School Food Program Agreement will positively impact our students' well-being and academic performance at Foothills School Division," said FSD in a statement. "By promoting that students have access to nutritious meals and snacks, we have created an inclusive environment where no child will learn on an empty stomach, nor feel stigmatized for needing assistance."
While this program is being used throughout numerous schools, FSD noted that at the Longview School, their daily breakfast program and weekly hot lunch program has built belonging and community at their school, which fosters healthy relationships and fueling learning opportunities.
"One of the most significant benefits we have observed is the increase in attendance on hot lunch days," said the principal at Longview School, Andrea Laubman. "When all students receive a hot lunch, the entire school community comes together to enjoy a shared meal. This not only fosters a sense of unity but also ensures that every child is well-nourished and ready to learn."
While they do see an increase in attendance, FSD says this funding provides positive effects beyond attendance.
The holistic nutrition they are providing students is essential for cognitive function and concentration, and also improves student engagement and academic performance.
"By removing the barriers to accessing healthy meals, we are supporting all students' overall development and helping them reach their full potential," FSD explains.
Some of the programs and activities funded through the School Nutrition Program include providing nutritious meals and snacks for students, offering nutritional education for students and their family, and purchasing food preparation, storage and serving equipment that meets the Alberta Health Standards.
This ensures schools have the proper resources to meet the nutrition needs of students.
"Ensuring students have access to proper nutrition is a priority for our government. No one learns well on an empty stomach -- that’s why we are partnering with the federal government to feed more kids in more schools, and fund new and innovative nutrition programs," said Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, in a media release about this program funding.
"On behalf of all of our schools, Foothills School Division is grateful for the continued collaborative support from the federal and provincial governments and looks forward to seeing the long-term benefits of this important initiative on our students and community," added FSD.
To read more about Alberta's School Nutrition Program, click here.