National school food program expanding in Sask.

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.

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.