NOVA SCOTIA: Families across Nova Scotia will see relief in their grocery bills this fall as the provincial government expands its school lunch program to include every elementary, middle, and junior high school in the province.
More than 104,000 students in 334 schools will now have access to healthy, affordable meals as the program rolls out through September and October.
“This year’s school lunch program is expanding to more schools, ordering is easier than ever, and our updated menu has something for everyone,” Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Brendan Maguire said. “We are doing everything we can to make life easier and more affordable for families, and part of that is making sure the Nova Scotia School Lunch program meets the needs of students across the province.”
The menu has been refreshed with kid-friendly favourites such as chicken nuggets with wedges and macaroni and cheese. The ordering system has also been simplified: parents and guardians now only need to select their child’s school and confirm their name. The province has also tightened service and delivery standards for third-party vendors to ensure consistency across schools.
Anna Gainey, federal Secretary of State for Children and Youth, said the partnership between the province and Ottawa is making a real difference for families.
“Partnering with Nova Scotia means more kids can now count on a healthy lunch at school and more parents will see their grocery bills go down. This will give children the chance to thrive and make life more affordable for families across the province.”
Parents can find the full menu and ordering details, at nslunch.ca.
The initiative is backed by a significant investment: Nova Scotia has committed $80 million to the program for the 2025–26 school year. In addition, the province is receiving $12.4 million over three years through the Government of Canada’s National School Food Program.
In its first year, the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program served more than 75,000 students across 256 schools. With this year’s expansion, thousands more children will have the chance to enjoy a nutritious lunch each day – one more step toward reducing barriers and supporting student success.