New meals and new packing for the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program.
The province says as of January 16, new menu items include pork and vegetarian egg roll bowls, chicken fingers and gluten-friendly cornbread.
For schools that have lunches delivered, meals that transport well will be added, such as barbecued drumsticks and glazed meatloaf.
Items like grilled cheese and tomato soap as well as pork quesadillas are also now available, if food is made on site.
It is part the province’s effort to improve meal quality and reduce waste with an investment of $80 million.
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Brendan Maguire says, “We’re continuing to improve the school lunch program by listening to students and families and making practical changes that matter.”
As for packaging, the Canadian company Friendlier is partnering with the province to pilot a new reusable containers initiative in 34 schools that serve about 26 thousand lunches every week, starting at the end of February.
The company is responsible for supplying clean containers for lunches as well as collecting used containers for professional cleaning. The containers can be reused up to 100 times and are recycled at the end of their lifecycle.
Friendlier Co-Founder Jacquie Hanton says, “By making reuse simple and accessible, Friendlier empowers students to eliminate daily packaging waste and build habits that last a lifetime. This initiative marks an important step toward scaling reuse across Nova Scotia.”
The provincial school lunch program has served millions since launching in 2024.
It started in elementary grades and has expanded to include middle and junior high schools.
-with files from Caitlin Snow
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