Item - 2012.HL15.3

The Board of Health recommends that:

1.         City Council adopt the recommendations outlined in the Student Nutrition Program Review Nourishing Young Minds, in the report (June 8, 2012) from the Medical Officer of Health specifically:

           a.           That City Council endorse the vision of Student Nutrition Programs delivered in all Toronto schools so that students who would benefit can achieve the positive health, learning and behavioural outcomes that result from this key nutrition strategy.

b.         That City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to optimize the City’s current investment in Student Nutrition Programs by ensuring that municipal funding is prioritized, as opportunities arise over the next 5 years, to breakfast programs in higher need schools.

c.         That City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Board of Health, as part of the 2013 budget process, on a plan to increase the City’s investment in a Student Nutrition Program funding partnership model with a view to fully phase-in the municipal share of the program within a three to five year horizon.

d.         That City Council consider as part of the annual operating budget process, an annual increase to the City’s investment in Student Nutrition Programs equal to the annual amount of food inflation reported by the Nutritious Food Basket survey.

e.         That City Council urge the Government of Ontario to provide annual adjustments to provincial Student Nutrition Program funding in consideration of the impact of food inflation.

f.          That City Council urge the Directors of Education of Toronto school boards to maximize the use of their current resources to support Student Nutrition Programs by:

i)          Optimizing the  allocation of space and equipment for local Student Nutrition Programs in schools, including the creative use of multi-purpose areas;

ii)         Supporting staff time and involvement in local school-based Student Nutrition Programs in light of the growth of the programs;

iii)        Exploring educational opportunities to teach cooking, food skills and nutrition to students; and

iv)        Integrating innovative and creative food-related school activities with local Student Nutrition Programs.

g.         That City Council request the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to consider Student Nutrition Programs as a key element in the Childhood Obesity Strategy, and furthermore, that this report be forwarded to the Minister’s Healthy Kids Panel as input to its strategy development.

h.         That City Council reiterate its request to the federal government to provide core funding for SNPs across Canada, which, internationally, is a best nutrition practice for students to achieve improved health, learning and behavioural outcomes.

i.          That City Council request the Medical Officer of Health to engage key private, public and voluntary sector leaders in strategic discussions regarding a sustainable funding and growth plan for Toronto Student Nutrition Programs.

j.          That City Council request the Toronto Partners for Student Nutrition to work with experts to maximize efficiencies in food procurement, safe storage, and distribution.

2.         City Council request the Mayor of the City of Toronto to write to the Prime Minister of Canada, Minister of Health and Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, with copies to Federal Members of Parliament in Toronto and opposition critics, requesting support for core funding to the Childrens' Nutrition Program, and attach a copy of the executive summary to the report titled "Nourishing Young Minds".