Start A Program

A successful school snack or breakfast program takes planning and teamwork, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. We have listed all of the information you need to start and manage your program with lots of tips, strategies and best practices. No matter if you are a new program or have been offering a program for many years; there is always new information to learn and review to improve your program.

To learn if funding is available to start a new/first-time student nutrition program, please contact the Lead Agency for Central East Ontario (which includes York Region): Peterborough Child and Family Centres

Snack Programs

Learn about school snack programs in York Region.

Breakfast Programs

Learn about school breakfast/morning meal programs in York Region.

Pre-Planning Checklist

Before you start, use this checklist to help you choose and plan the right student nutrition program for your school.

Contact Us

If you are a new school that wants to start a snack or breakfast program, contact us and we can help you get started.

Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program Guidelines for provincially-funded breakfast/morning meal, or snack programs. Review the guidelines to ensure you are meeting them. Learn about the stakeholders involved in SNP.

Ministry Program Guidelines

Nutrition Guidelines

The Nutrition Guidelines is consistent with Canada’s Food Guide. Use the guide to plan your menu; watch online modules/webinars to learn more! For one-on-one assistance, contact a Nutrition Educator, York Region Public Health.

How will you offer food to students? Grab N Go? Classroom bins? Sit-down meals? Learn the benefits and challenges of each delivery method and see photos of how schools in York Region are serving their food to students.

Serving Food: Options

Schools must fundraise to support a snack or breakfast program. How much will it cost? Learn to budget your costs so you have enough for the entire school year.

Funding & Budgeting

Before you start your school snack or breakfast program, think about the equipment and non-food supplies you will need, where you will get these items, and how you will pay for them. Click here for a sample list of items you may need.

Equipment & Supplies

Volunteers are an important part of a successful program. Learn how to recruit and work with volunteers.