Student Nutrition

FoodShare was instrumental in pioneering the model for student nutrition programs in the city of Toronto in 1991 and has been involved ever since.

As a key partner in the Toronto Partners for Student Nutrition (TPSN), FoodShare continues to do on-the-ground work to support student nutrition programs across the city of Toronto. These programs involve a great many parent volunteers, including new Canadians who are engaging with their child's school and public society for the first time in a way that is meaningful for them and helps build their own capacity and social connections, often teaching new skills which may lead to employment opportunities.

FoodShare works in partnership with Toronto Public Health, Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto Foundation for Student Success, Angel Foundation for Learning and other community agencies to support student nutrition programs in the City of Toronto through the Toronto Partners for Student Nutrition (TPSN).

FoodShare takes responsibility for the Community Development Team of TPSN, which, based at FoodShare, provides intensive on-site support for 720+ programs across the City of Toronto serving approximately 141,000 healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to children and youth in schools and community sites each school day. FoodShare's community development animators work with each site developing strategies for long-term sustainability of the nutrition programs within their school or community site.

FoodShare's Fresh Bulk Produce program (one of our Good Food Programs) makes fresh fruit and vegetables available at an affordable price to school programs, in order to promote increased consumption amongst children. The program offers locally grown and seasonal produce when available which is delivered directly to the student nutrition program site on a weekly basis. Through Harvest of the Month specials FoodShare helps programs access local produce when in season and provides schools with easy recipe ideas, classroom activities and farmer profiles.

The Salad Bar program first piloted by FoodShare in Toronto schools in 2003 continues to be another lunch program option available to schools as a means of increasing fresh fruit and vegetable consumption by children and youth. For more information, read about the Salad Bar in the Toolbox section of our on-line Learning Centre.

We continue to advocate for funding and infrastructure for community programs, and for a federal universal child nutrition program, which would ensure that every child and youth receives a nutritious meal every day that they are in school.

Find a student nutrition program in Toronto

To find or start a student nutrition program contact the Toronto Partners for Student Nutrition at 416-363-6441 ext. 265 or e-mail Fiona Bowser fiona@foodshare.net.

Order produce for your school or agency

For more information on how you can order fresh produce through our Fresh Produce Program distribution for agencies and schools contact Jackson at: 416-363-6441 ext. 242 or jackson@foodshare.net.

Field to Table Schools program

FoodShare's Field to Table Schools program is the educational complement to our student nutrition program. This program returns food education to our schools through curriculum connections from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 to cultivate Food Literacy. Field to Table Schools is dedicated to making healthy eating and an understanding and experience of the whole range of the food system a way of life for our children.

Find out more about Field to Table Schools programs, resources and workshops here.

FoodShare's Work in Schools and Student Nutrition

FoodShare's continued work with student nutrition programs in the City of Toronto complements our Field to Table Schools program, the educational component that returns food education to our schools through curriculum connections from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 to cultivate Food Literacy. Our Fresh Bulk Produce program for schools provides direct access to healthy produce. We have also had great success with a healthy cafeteria model, which we call "The Good Food Café", and which Jennifer Bain in the Toronto Star has called "the future of school lunches." And in 2010 we brought together our expertise in urban agriculture and our work in schools to help facilitate Canada's first school market garden at Bendale Business and Technical Institute in Toronto.

Find out more information on all of this important work in schools here >>