Like parents across Nova Scotia, I scramble most mornings to serve up breakfast while packing lunches. So I couldn’t contain a chuckle when my 14 year-old made and claimed as her own this slow cooker chicken soup – asking, “Did you like my soup?” as I unpacked the thermos I took to work.
We need to celebrate little wins while working for the systemic ones that are years in the making, like the push for a federal investment in school food. Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development met with school food champions in Nova Scotia on November 28. All are welcome to help shape a pan-Canadian School Food Policy by participating in the survey or commenting by email. Join the Coalition for Healthy School Food for an interactive workshop on December 12 to help you fill out the survey.
In the meantime, we at Nourish are close enough to the ground to know that many school food programs are struggling. Volunteers, staff and/or students are out sick; budgets are inadequate; getting food to schools can be a challenge; and many schools don’t have a fridge/freezer or a place to serve.
Nourish is helping in all the ways we can, including by asking for contributions to the Nova Scotia School Food Fund that we’ll distribute across the school system in January.