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Fenugreek crackers, plantain crisps, strawberry and wild rice muffins, pao de queijo and ube pandesal are the kinds of cultural foods being served at Chatham-Kent school these days.

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The expanded menu is part of the Ontario Student Nutrition Program, which serves about 10,000 students in 40 schools across the municipality, said Danielle Findlay, supervisor of community relations with OSNP Southwest, delivered by VON.

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“Food is a powerful connector,” she said. “This project provides opportunities to reduce barriers, increase participation and engage students in learning and celebrating one another.”

She said as demographics are changing with more newcomers arriving in communities, the student nutrition programs are typical of a North American diet.

“We want all students to see themselves reflected in the (nutrition) program at school,” Findlay said.

The program is part of OSNP’s commitment to its equity, diversity and inclusion framework, ensuring all students feel affirmed, represented and well-nourished through inclusive nutrition programming.

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Findlay said the cultural project is growing in popularity with the goal of “exposing all kids to new foods so that they’re learning.”

She added it’s not just about serving the food, but providing teachers with resources to share with students on “how the food is prepared and served traditionally, and why it’s important to that culture.”

The cultural enhancements are new to the Chatham-Kent area this school year, said Rosanna Waldram, VON community development co-ordinator for the OSNP in Chatham-Kent.

“Kids are trying things that they haven’t tried before,” she said.

There are some foods some students “don’t have the taste buds for,” Waldram says, but for the most part the principals and students have been giving good feedback.

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Cultural foods are served once a month with a connection to existing celebrations including Tamil Heritage Month, Black History Month, Brazilian Carnival, Eid al-Fitr and Indigenous History Month.

While the cultural expansion of the student nutrition program is new, Waldram says, “Chatham-Kent was one of the first regions in Ontario that developed a nutrition program” years ago.

She said if a student didn’t have time for breakfast or forgot their lunch, there is food available for them.

Waldram said students are trying new things even with the regular program, noting there was a school where kindergarten kids were sampling mini peppers and enjoying them.

“It’s an awesome program and it’s great for kids,” she said.

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