Nova Scotia’s School Lunch Program

The Challenge

Access to healthy food is critical to the health and wellbeing of children and youth. It directly impacts academic achievement, supports physical and mental development, and reduces the risk of preventable health conditions later in life. 

Although healthy food is an essential element of development and academic success, many Nova Scotians do not have access to this fundamental resource. The number of people experiencing food insecurity in the province is significant—roughly 1/3 of Nova Scotian students are estimated to miss lunch each school day. This is more than a statistic. This represents a daily struggle faced by thousands of children and families across the province.

The Approach

Grounded in evidence that nutritious school meals boost wellbeing, learning, and healthy lifelong habits, the Nova Scotia government announced a province-wide School Lunch Program in 2024. The program will be phased in over three years, beginning with Phase 1 in the 2024–2025 school year, with the program reaching 258 schools. Over the next several years, the province will expand this program to ensure that all public-school students have access to healthy meals each school day. Beyond providing a meal, this program has been designed to support student’s health and wellbeing, as well as foster lifelong healthy eating habits.

With just eight months to design and implement the program, Davis Pier was engaged to lead this complex project. The work involved close collaboration with 10 government departments – including the Departments of Health & Wellness, Education & Early Childhood Development, and Opportunities and Social Development—as well as seven Regional Centres for Education and the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial. Davis Pier ensured alignment across all partners through a structured project management approach, which was critical to delivering the program on time and with a focus on an inclusive, student-first experience.

Davis Pier brought expertise in program design, change management, behavioural science analytics, human-centred design, implementation planning, and project management to help shape a student-centered approach that aligned with key service objectives set by the Province. 

Key contributions included:

• Employing iterative project management approach to ensure successful implementation and coordinate efforts across multiple teams and workstreams.
• Conducting current state assessment and jurisdictional scan to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Applied behavioural science to design a stigma-free experience and encourage inclusive engagement.
• Led change management efforts to build support, generate enthusiasm, and ensure clear, consistent communication throughout the initiative.
• Facilitating workshops and conducting assessments to inform program design and informed decision-making.
• Managing risks through regular engagement across all levels of government leadership and proactive issue resolution. 
• Applying human-centred design principles to promote equity, dignity, and inclusivity.

The Outcome

Launched in October 2024, Phase 1 of the School Lunch Program was offered in 258 schools, reaching about 75,000 students across the province. 

Based on the success of Phase 1, Davis Pier is now supporting a Phase 2 launch to 76 additional schools (29,000 students), planned for the 2025-2026 school year. Over the next three years, the program aims to provide healthy lunches to all public-school students across Nova Scotia, representing 372 schools and approximately 13,350 students. 

“Students at Portland Estates Elementary School today, January 30.”
©Government of Nova Scotia, Province Serves Two Million School Lunches

Progress and Achievements

As of June 2025

The program operates on a pay-what-you-can model, allowing families to choose how much they wish to contribute to their meal, from $0.00 to $6.50. Lunches are ordered through a confidential online platform to ensure a stigma-free experience.

Phase 1 features a 4-week rotating menu with 40 student-approved meals that combine familiar favorites with new options and ensuring a consistent and healthy dining experience in schools across the province. Two meal options are offered each school day, with at least one vegetarian option available daily.

Phase 1 Program Highlights

As of June 2025

The Impact

The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program provides added support to students and families by ensuring they have access to affordable, healthy meals. School lunch programs have been shown to help reduce the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition—encouraging school students to create better eating habits from a young age.

And the benefits go beyond physical health. Having a reliable meal everyday eases stress and anxiety and helps students regulate their emotions and stay focused in class. This leads to better attendance, improved academic performance, and a heightened sense of wellbeing. For families, the program removes a significant financial burden—making it easier to manage household expenses. 

Building on the success of the initial rollout, the province is now preparing for Phase 2, extending the program to junior high schools in September 2025.

The fact that we’re able to have a program where kids who might not normally get a warm lunch, let alone a lunch, actually have the ability to have it for free every single day, I think is amazing.

— Cheryl Hooper, parent of a 7-year-old program participant

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