Special Education lunch program

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Special Education students at Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School start their lunch program at the grocery store. Along with math and science, the students are learning about healthy food choices.

Teacher, Trevor Nicoll, coaches his class on calorie counts, sugar content and sodium, preparing them for a bi-weekly trip to the grocery store where they’ll purchase nutritious lunch supplies to feed fellow students.

“That was a big discussion the first couple times. ‘But I really like this one…this is the one I have at home…this is the one I really want to eat’ . But what you want and what’s better for you might be two different things.”

Armed with bags full of groceries funded by Metro’s Green Apple program, they get to work. Because of their learning challenges, daily repetition and reminders about a balanced diet are important.

The students stack their lunch trolley with cheesestrings, yogurt tubes, sandwiches and fruit, then wheel it into the hallway to serve their fellow students.

“It makes me feel good that people get to eat a lunch and not have to go the day starving without a lunch.” says one student.

Trevor Nicoll explains why the program is important to these students. “Being out and being able to go and get the products, the social engagement, knowing the kids have made the product and that other people are really thankful for the things that they’ve made, it’s fantastic.”

Any student in the school can come down and get a free lunch. For Mr. Nicoll’s class, it’s a great chance to make friendships with mainstream students.