Image

Bedford and Forsyth Education Centre (BFEC) student Will Hunt says having food available at school “just makes eating easier.”  

“It's nice to know that you can come here and not be hungry. It takes off some of that stress and pressure to think about all of that. When I eat breakfast, I do better in class.” 

The breakfast, lunch and food market programs at BFEC aim to take stress off students while fostering a sense of community. The programs are supported by various partners, including Feed Nova Scotia, which delivers food twice a week. 

 The breakfast program provides two hot breakfasts a week: breakfast sandwiches on Wednesdays and grilled cheese sandwiches on Fridays. The lunch program, funded by grants, offers a variety of hot meals, including mac and cheese, chili, tacos, and soups. The program also incorporates leftovers creatively, turning them into new and delicious dishes to prevent waste. 

Student Jaidan Forde appreciates the research that goes into the meals that are prepared and how culturally thoughtful the options are. Originally from Barbados, Forde says healthy food wasn’t really an option at schools back home. 

“The staff definitely put a lot of effort into what they make here,” Forde says. “It makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome.” 

School Counselor Shawn Mantley and Child and Youth Care Practitioner Lisa Pierce often team up in the kitchen to support BFEC’s food programs. They love to see students take a sense of ownership and pride in the programs. 

“It’s such an organic way for us as staff to build trust and relationships,” Pierce says. “I think because of the staff team that we have and the hearts that we have in this building, it's very easy to lean into. This is all like very near and dear to our hearts, because we get to see the impact that it has on our students.” 

With a $5,000 Nourish Nova Scotia grant, the staff team at BFEC created the Come to the Table program, which invites students into the BFEC kitchen to learn to cook and prepare meals. They often bring recipes from home and make lunch for their peers. 

“It allows them to share one of their family's traditions,” Mantley says. “They're engaged in the program, taking part in it, and then they feel a sense of worth because now they're actually getting to share a recipe that means something to them.” 

The school also has a food market, located in the student lounge. It’s accessible to students before and after school, during breaks, and at lunch. It offers a variety of items, including canned goods, meats, dairy products, and produce. Students can take food home, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals outside of school hours and can help support their families. 

Jarrett Feeney is the Principal of BFEC’s Dartmouth and Bedford campuses. He says the food programs at both campuses have really brought the school communities together, and that starts with the effort and care being put forward by staff. 

“For the staff here at BFEC, this is more than a place to get your credits. They look at school as a safe space for kids, a support network for families, a meeting in place, a hub of a community, and as a result, students feel that we're all about trying to provide everything that they might need to be successful. 

“I find that the attendance has been positively impacted. They learn that there's consistency and safety for them here, and the availability of food is a big part of that. ‘Oh, there's lunch? I might as well stay.’ Or they know they can get some food to take home and help support their family, so that takes that mental load off and they're coming in less stressed and hunger's less of a distraction.” 

Feeney says from food-centric course offerings to breakfast and lunch programs, the ripple effect has really been all positive. 

Student Ally Nauss loves to cook and bake and has enjoyed BFEC’s Food Science 12 course. 

“We did a segment in food sciences for mac and cheese, and we made it for the whole school the next day. The feedback from people was mixed,” she laughs. “I think most people enjoyed it. It’s nice to know you will have something to eat if you don’t have time at home to make something to bring to school. 

“It feels really good to know that staff care this much about us.”