December 29, 2010

McGuinty Government Helps Serve Over 68 Million Nutritious School Meals

This year, approximately 68.4 million nutritious breakfasts, snacks and lunches were served to elementary and secondary students through Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program.The program provides healthy snacks and meals to children so they can be ready to learn and get the most out of their school day.

Funded in part by the Ontario government, the Student Nutrition Program is community-driven and largely run by volunteers, including parents, teachers and local residents.

Long-term benefits of the program include:

• success at school
• establishing life-long healthy eating habits
• reducing health risks related to poverty and obesity

The Student Nutrition Program is part of the poverty reduction strategy and supports the Open Ontario Plan.

• In 2010, approximately 600,000 students got nutritious snacks and meals through the Student Nutrition Program.
• About 90 per cent of student nutrition programs are delivered in schools, with the remainder in community-based locations.
• Since 2003, Ontario has quadrupled its investment to $17.9 million for the Student Nutrition Program.
• Ontario provided an additional $9.4 million in 2008 to provide breakfast and morning meals for students in 1,000 communities with the highest need.

• Learn more about Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program
• Find out more about eating healthier, more nutritious food from Eat Right Ontario
• ontario.ca/children-news