School Lunch Program in Nova Scotia Faces Backlash, Changes Are Coming

Nova Scotia’s pay-what-you-can school lunch program, launched last year, is seeing mixed results as it enters its second year. While many parents appreciate the convenience and relief from packing lunches, concerns about meal quality and payment participation are rising.

Decrease in Full Payments

The program initially launched with high hopes, allowing families to pay what they could. However, by late April 2025, only 2% of meals were fully paid, down from 4% at the program’s start. The shift in payment patterns reflects growing dissatisfaction with food quality and menu variety, according to a survey of 19,563 respondents conducted by the province.

Parents Want Better Quality and Variety

Katie Armstrong, a mother in Nova Scotia, shared her experience with CBC News. She explained that her son, Henry, felt disappointed by meals like fish cakes and black bean tacos. “I think if a child doesn’t like the majority of them, there’s no room for trying new things after that,” Armstrong said. As a result, she switched from paying full price to the $4 option.

Despite the pay-what-you-can model, many parents are calling for better food options. A significant portion of respondents, about 25%, expressed dissatisfaction with the variety and quality of meals. However, over 9,000 respondents felt the nutritional value of the meals was acceptable.

Improving the Program

Aimee Gasparetto, executive director of Nourish Nova Scotia, acknowledged the feedback and noted that the program would implement menu changes next year. The program, designed to reduce food insecurity in the province, serves approximately 75,000 students and will be expanding to junior high schools in the fall.

Despite challenges, Gasparetto emphasized that the program is vital in addressing child poverty and food insecurity in the region. With nearly 70% of Nova Scotia families relying on food banks, the school lunch program is seen as a critical solution.

Participation and Budget Expansion

The program, costing $18.8 million in the 2024-2025 school year, has already expanded its budget to $61.2 million for the 2025-2026 year to accommodate its growth and improvements. The provincial government is also working to introduce new menu options and sustainable packaging in response to feedback.

Moving Forward

Despite some issues, Armstrong believes in the program’s importance and remains hopeful for improvements. “There’s always room for change and improvement,” she said, adding that she’ll continue to use the program for her children when the meals meet their needs.

What improvements do you think are needed to make Nova Scotia’s school lunch program more successful? Should more menu options be introduced?

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/n-s-school-lunch-program-how-many-people-paid-full-price-1.7552942
• https://ca.news.yahoo.com/heres-many-people-paid-full-090000847.html