It was a lofty goal: make sure every student has access to affordable and healthy food while at school.
The idea was put forward by former school trustee Jonina Campbell in June 2017. She wanted to ensure no student went hungry and all students ate healthy.
Staff at the New Westminster school district took up this challenge and next week the culmination of nearly two years of work will roll out at three local schools.
“It’s actually gone quite smoothly, to be honest,” said Quirina Gamblen, the district’s director of instruction, programs and planning.
The goal of the program is to offer kids fresh and healthy meals that are made the same day they are delivered. In the fall, the district put out a call for proposals from different caterers in the region that could provide food every day to all the schools in New Westminster.
The winning bid came from Ready Maid Meals, a Burnaby-based catering company run by Chef Gary Hovey.
“I’d say it was more of a partnership. He’s really invested in what we’re doing – believes in feeding healthy food to children,” Gamblen said.
Last year, the board of education set aside $50,000 to cover the start-up costs of implementing the new food program. The first phase launches next week at École Qayqayt elementary (Feb. 5), Queen Elizabeth Elementary (Feb. 7) and Queensborough Middle School (Feb. 8).
Last week, parents were invited to an information night about the new program. The caterer was there offering samples while staff were on hand to answer questions.
“The feedback was very positive overall,” Gamblen said.
The meals are developed by the district’s nutrition coordinator and registered dietician Cyndi Adams on a month-by-month basis and include gluten-free and vegetarian options. Adams will adjust the meals as the program moves forward and the district starts to get feedback from parents and students, Gamblen said.
Parents will be able to order their child’s meals a week in advance, and anyone in need of financial assistance can apply for funding through the school district. When the food is delivered to the classroom, there won’t be anything that identifies the subsidized meals, Gamblen stressed.
Options available range from spinach salad with chickpea patties or chicken to Thai noodle salad to barbecue chicken wraps and more. Parents can order a meal and add any sides they’d like, which are often fruit or vegetables.
“My favourite is the corn and bean salsa. It is absolutely delicious, and they have some really awesome baked goods as well – the lemon loaf is to die for,” Gamblen told the Record.
Phase 2 of the program is set to begin Sept. 24 at Fraser River Middle School and Lord Tweedsmuir and Connaught Heights elementary schools. F.W. Howay and Richard McBride elementary schools and Glenbrook Middle School will follow on Nov. 5, 6 and 7, respectively.
The program will launch at Herbert Spencer and Lord Kelvin elementary schools in January 2020.
New Westminster Secondary School will be the last school to join the program because Gamblen and her team will have to develop a program specific to the high school.
But, assuming all goes well next week, the new food program could launch at more schools before the end of the school year, ahead of schedule, according to Gamblen.
For more information on the program, go to newwestschools.ca.
