Better Winnipeg: Breakfast program for kids teaches healthy food choices

WINNIPEG — Dalhousie school is a buzz with activity, well before the morning bell rings.

Anywhere from 60 to 90 students arrive early every day for breakfast. It’s part of a Breakfast for Learning program offered at the elementary school.

“Sometimes I don’t eat breakfast at home. I come here to do breakfast,” says Phebe Nolujobi, a student at the kindergarten to grade 6 school in Fort Richmond.

“If you start the day off right with a meal then you’re set for the day,” explains Julie Fowles. She has been coordinating the program for the past 5 years. She not only organizes the daily meal, Fowles helps teach the students about healthy food choices and how to prepare them.

But the children who show up each day are getting even more than a nutritious breakfast. They are making new friends and becoming closer as a school community.

Three quarters of the students at Dalhousie are new to Canada. Many are learning English as a second language.

“When you’re new to Canada it’s difficult at times to join a sports team or be a part of choir if you don’t speak English initially. But breakfast program is a place where everybody fits in,” explains Marina Wilson, the Principal at Dalhousie School.

Some families are rushed in the morning and can’t get a healthy breakfast onto the table and sometimes food is just not available at home.

A combination of fundraising, donations and grants support the program. It’s enough to get by, but a $25,000 gift from retailer The Brick, and national charity Breakfast for Learning Canada is set to make it even better.

Dalhousie School was selected to receive the money as part of a pilot project aimed at enhancing school breakfast facilities. The social impact grant from Breakfast for Learning Canada will go toward redesigning the room, new equipment, appliances and a seating area for families.

The renovations will take place over the summer and will be completed in time for students to return to class in the fall, taking it beyond the breakfast program.

“We want to encourage the parents to bring their children in and to get together with other parents so they can communicate, get to know each other, make friends and get more comfortable in the community,” says Jim Caldwell, president of The Brick and vice chairman of the board for Breakfast for Learning Canada.

The impact of the enhancements to Dalhousie School’s breakfast program will be studied as part of pilot project. The impact here will ultimately pave the way for other Canadian schools looking to do something similar.

“We’re so excited about Winnipeg being the first one,” says Caldwell who lives in Edmonton but has family roots in Winnipeg.

“Frankly it makes me proud to be a Winnipegger because that’s what Winnipeg is all about, community coming together to support those in need.”

There are over 2,100 programs funded in Canada by Breakfast for Learning. Approximately 43 are right here in Manitoba. For more information visit the Breakfast for Learning website here.

Better Winnipeg is a weekly feature that focuses on people and events that make Winnipeg better. If you have suggestions for stories, send them to betterwinnipeg@globalnews.ca.