The Student Nutrition Program is a provincially led, regionally directed initiative. The provincial Ministry of Children and Youth Services supports local nutrition programs with money to purchase food and other essentials, while local businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals contribute financial support as well as in-kind donations and volunteer time to plan, support and deliver breakfast, lunch and snack programs.
Interesting Fact: Studies show that 31% of elementary school students and 62% of secondary school students do not start their day with a nutritious breakfast.
Our Schools
In the region of Ontario Central East, The Peterborough Family and Child Centres works as the lead agency for Student Nutrition Ontario, providing support and direction to Durham's Child Nutrition Project and six other regions.
At last count, DCNP administered over 190 breakfast, lunch and snack programs, in Durham Region Schools making nutritious food accessible to over 50 000 students.
DCNP is managed by a Local Planning Partnership (LPP) of people who care about children's nutrition and health, including representatives public health department and other community members.
SNO- central East has 2 Region Community development Coordinators who work closely with their LPP to improve the learning capacity, health and well-being of children by ensuring access to healthy food before, during or after school through school or community-based nutrition programs.
Students themselves, along with parents and teachers, recognize that when our stomachs are full with nutritious food, we learn better and are healthier.