BREAKFAST FOR LEARNING NOVA SCOTIA

Breakfast for Learning - Nova Scotia Advisory Council (BFL-NSAC) was formed on April 8th, 1998, having had preliminary groundwork establish in the province by the Canadian Living Foundation (as Breakfast for Learning was known then). The Council consisted of 14 members representing education, health, parents and families, media, business sectors, and geographic regions of the province. In 2000, a half-time provincial coordinator was added to help support the Council's efforts and in June 2001, the Council joined Breakfast for Learning's National Advisory Council on Child Nutrition, representing Nova Scotia.

The BFL-NSAC mandate was to support nutrition programs, using a wide variety of means. Programs received funding assistance, but also education, leadership and resources to implement and sustain nutrition programs in their own communities.  On a broader level the Council also advocated to help inform government and corporate partners of the importance of nutrition programs in schools and communities. The Council demonstrated to government and business the benefits of investing in the future of children and youth in Nova Scotia, via nutrition programs.

In 2005, the Nova Scotia provincial government introduced funding for breakfast programs in elementary schools to support the Department of Education’s Learning for Life II, Brighter Futures Together initiative.  The Department of Education in partnership with the Department of Health Promotion and Protection engaged experts in breakfast program delivery for guidance.  Breakfast for Learning, being the recognized leader in the field, was invited to partner in the initiative to support the development and implementation of the Provincial Breakfast Program.  Today, the Provincial Breakfast Program has evolved to support all children and youth in Nova Scotia, grades primary through twelve.

In 2010/2011, Breakfast for Learning funded 258 nutrition programs, who in turn served healthy breakfasts and snacks to more than 20,230 students province-wide.