SaskatchewanAs families continue to struggle with high grocery prices and inflation, the federal and provincial governments say more students in Saskatchewan will now have access to healthy meals at school.Federal government aims to make program permanentAishwarya Dudha · CBC News · Posted: Nov 22, 2025 6:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Staff at Caroline Robins Community School in Saskatoon have been busy preparing tasty meals for hundreds of students as part of the of the National School Food Program. (CBC)As families continue to struggle with high grocery prices and inflation, the federal and provincial governments say more students in Saskatchewan will now have access to healthy meals at school.At a news conference at Caroline Robins Public School in Saskatoon on Friday, officials said the National School Food Program is expanding.“The good news that we celebrated today is this is now going to be a permanent program,” Buckley Belanger, Liberal MP and secretary of state for rural development, said at the event.Earlier this year, Saskatchewan and Canada signed a three-year, $15.8-million agreement, part of a national $1-billion school nutrition program.The province is distributing $6.4 million of that federal funding to Saskatchewan school divisions for the 2025-26 school year, supporting students in urban, rural and northern communities.Saskatoon Public Schools board chair Kim Stranden said the expansion will support 30 schools in the division, prioritized by need. She said it will make a meaningful difference for families struggling with the rising cost of food.“As a parent myself, I struggle every morning trying to figure out what to put in my son’s lunch … but I can’t even imagine how difficult it is for parents that are struggling financially to know what to pack their children for lunches, for snacks during school. And this relieves pressure,” Stranden said.Kim Stranden, board chair for Saskatoon Public Schools, says the impact of the national food program is already being seen. (CBC)Stranden said providing meals at schools boosts attendance and inclusivity, because all students are eating the same food.“They’re providing healthy, nutritious meals and hearty meals, not just peanut butter and jam sandwiches,” she said.The division recently opened a central production kitchen that makes meals for about 1,000 students, with plans to scale up using a hybrid model where some schools receive food directly, while others receive funding to provide meals on site.Jordan Sockmenoğlu, who manages food and nutrition services forthe school division, said the benefits are already visible among students.“I have a number of stories about how behavior is improved when students are fed in the afternoon,” she said.“Students get antsy if they’re hungry and they don’t focus. I’ve had a student tell me that our food is better than what they make at home. No offence to mom and dad.”The federal government says the National School Food Program is expected to reach up to 400,000 children every year.WATCH | Sask. school divisions to receive funding to expand food programs :Sask. school divisions to receive funding to expand food programsEarlier this year, the Saskatchewan government and Ottawa signed a three-year, $15-million agreement under the National School Food Program. The province is distributing part of that funding to school divisions for the next school year.ABOUT THE AUTHORAishwarya Dudha is a reporter for CBC Saskatchewan based in Saskatoon. She specializes in immigration, justice and cultural issues and elevating voices of vulnerable people. She has previously worked for CBC News Network and Global News. You can email her at aishwarya.dudha@cbc.ca
National school food program expanding in Sask.
