Education minister lauds first year of school lunch program but tweaks are likely

Officials with the province's Education Department are not tracking food waste associated with the new school lunch program, but the cabinet minister responsible says even with some issues that might need tweaking he's pleased with the first year of the program.

"Nothing is perfect, but we've served over two million meals since the start of the lunch program," Education Minister Brendan Maguire told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Halifax on Thursday.

The program was launched early into this school year, beginning in 250 elementary schools across the province. Families order meals in two-week blocks and can choose how much they want to pay, with an option to pay nothing.

The government budgeted $18.8 million for the first year of the program. The 2025-26 budget more than tripled that figure to $61.2 million in order to speed up the rollout and reach all junior high and middle schools for the coming fall.

Maguire conceded that some people have expressed concerns about the program, including the overall menu and quality of some of the meals. He said there would be tweaks heading into the next school year based on feedback.

"I always say I have three children and I could put the same meal in front of those three children and they're not necessarily going to like it."

The minister, on the other hand, praised the meals he's been able to sample so far, including a bean burrito, pizza and butter chicken. Maguire said his children are small enough that they don't always finish the food, which means he sometimes gets the leftovers.

He acknowledged that he may have a less discerning palette than some younger diners.

"You've got to know that I'm not a picky eater," he said.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he's supportive of the lunch and breakfast programs, noting the importance both play for some students each day.

But Mombourquette said that if the program is to be the best it can be, officials need to look at ways to improve it, including tracking food waste.

"Because really, those statistics help make the choices around what food selections should be in place and what the students will actually consume more of," he told reporters.

NDP MLA Susan Leblanc, whose party advocated for years for a universal school lunch program, said there may be shortcomings in the first year of the rollout but the broader intent of the program should not be missed.

"The idea of school lunches is a success," she told reporters.

Still, like Mombourquette, Leblanc said she'd like to see more attention paid to food waste and menus adjusted to ensure the program benefits students as much as possible as it continues to be introduced in more schools.