School District 8 Food Funding 

In 2023, the B.C. Government committed $214 million over three years for Feeding Futures, the largest investment in school food programs in the province’s history. The Ministry of Education and Child Care distributes Feeding Futures funding to all school districts in B.C. The Ministry works with school districts to provide spending criteria and offer guidance on how to run programs.

In addition to Feeding Futures funding, the Ministry of Education and Child Care is working with the Government of Canada to implement the National School Food Program in B.C., which will provide additional funding to districts and schools to expand school food programs. In April 2024, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $1 billion over five years for a National School Food Program to expand school food programs across the country.

In March 2025, an agreement between the B.C. Government and the Government of Canada was announced, enabling B.C. to access National School Food Program funds. This funding will complement Feeding Futures and will provide an additional $39.4 million over three years for B.C. schools and districts to expand and enhance school food programs.

Family Fun with Food!

Sample Activities for Families to engage with food and nutrition 

• Veggie Building 
  • What a better way to get kids excited about healthy snacking then with a fun fruit and vegetable building activity?
  • Cut up some fruit, vegetables, and cheeses into smaller bite sized pieces (e.g., apples, grapes, cherry tomatoes, cubed cheese, etc.)
  • Try incorporating new items, like broccoli or cauliflower in order to pique curiosity 
  • Buy round toothpicks and build structures together with the various items available, and talk about the shape, texture, taste, color, and so forth. 
     
• Garden Vegetable Printing 
  • Using fruits and vegetables for art can have great influence on eating them as you will see. Don't shy away from playing with food, especially if you have a picky eater. Tip: buy imperfect items from the store, harvest fresh from the garden, or use veggies that are almost on their way out and not being used. 

1. Gather your materials: a few veggies and/or fruits, paper, paint, paper towel, scissors, and a dish or two.
2. Start by pouring paint into the dish
3. Add the cut veggies and fruit and start stamping them onto the paper!
4. Save some un-touched items for a snack after and talk about the colors, taste, texture, and smell 

• Colouring pages! 
  • Colour Your Salad 
  • Colour Your Grains 
  • Colour Your Cheese 
  • Fruit and Vegetable Crown 
  • Fruit and Vegetable Colouring Page
     

Family Food Adventures! 

Food is a fun way to connect as a family. 

• Activities outside the home: 
  • Go fishing and catch your own food 
  • Take a trip to the farmers market and discuss the different kinds of fruits and vegetables you see, identify their colour, shape, and smell. Tip: Find a recipe online or from a cookbook beforehand and purchase a fresh item from the market to include. 
  • Take a trip to a local farm or apple orchard and talk about all of the varieties available in your region 
  • Take a trip to a new grocery store, such as KTK Masala shop, and talk about all of the diverse and delicious spices or items that are available from other countries.  
  • Nelson Public Library 
    • Food preservation, stretching the food budget, and sustainability 
      • Pressure canner, dehydrator, cookbooks, and more!
    • Nelson Public Library cookbooks can help you save money and reduce food waste 
    • Canning and Preserving 
• Activities within the home: 
  • Watch a cooking show together 
  • Growing your own fresh herbs or vegetables 
  • Taking a cooking class together in the community 

Canada Food Guide Toolkit for Educators and Families ages 9-11 

• These activities are intended for Children aged 9 to 11 years old. They will help them learn: 
  • To identify different cooking methods 
  • About foods that are part of different cultures and traditions 
  • To practice eating thoughtfully and making eating enjoyable 
• These activities support children in experiencing and exploring foods which are part of the Canada's Food Guide 

Food Skills for Families 

• Connecting people in the kitchen, teaching hands-on cooking skills, and making healthy eating, grocery shopping, and cooking easy, quick, and fun. 
• Food Skills Sample Recipes 
   

For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the BC School Food Toolkit FAQ page.