N.S. updates school lunch program, launches reusable container pilot

Two girls hold an orange and apple in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, June 29, 2020. (Melanie Borrelli / CTV Windsor)

Changes are coming to Nova Scotia’s school lunch program.

Starting Friday, new lunches at all schools include pork and vegetarian egg roll bowls, chicken fingers and a gluten-friendly cornbread that can replace other bread options.

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Brendan Maguire says the province is listening to students and families and making “practical changes that matter.”

The province adds menus are being tailored to whether lunches are prepared at schools or delivered in an effort to ensure “consistent quality.”

Delivered lunches will feature new meals that transport well, like barbecued chicken drumsticks and meatloaf.

Some existing meals will also be adjusted to have sides that transport well, like apples and oranges.

Schools where lunches are made will have new items, including grilled cheese with tomato soup and pork quesadillas.

Some schools will also be a part of a new reusable packaging pilot program.

The province says it is partnering with Canadian company Friendlier for the program, which will start at the end of February.

The company will supply clean containers for lunches and collect used ones for professional cleaning.

“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,” said Jacquie Hanton, the cofounder and chief revenue officer of Friendlier.

The reusable containers will be used in 34 schools that serve about 26,000 lunches a week. They can be used up to 100 times and can be recycled by Friendlier after that.

“New menu options, meals designed for how they’re prepared and delivered, and the move toward reusable containers will help more students enjoy nutritious lunches while harnessing Canadian innovation to reduce waste,” Maguire said in a provincial news release.

The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program served more than 4.7 million lunches in the 2024-25 school year, according to the province.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page