More To Travel: Giving wings to the future generation 

Committed to helping young people, the Air Canada Foundation has partnered with Breakfast Club of Canada for over 10 years. Its significant support enables children in the ten provinces, three territories and Indigenous communities to access nutritious food. In June 2023, the Air Canada team visited the MartinBélanger Elementary School in Quebec. Their visit brought magic and inspiration! 

 

A Nutritious Breakfast as Wings of Protection 

Since 2012, the Air Canada Foundation has supported the Club’s mission to nurture children’s potential, one breakfast at a time. This aligns with their values of generosity and dedication to communities, aiming to improve children’s health and well-being. In recent years, the Foundation has helped set up school nutrition programs in Alberta, Manitoba and Nunavut. This collaboration ensures food security for children from all backgrounds.  

Once again, Air Canada employees served breakfast to students with smiles. Over thirty children enjoyed fruit, yogurt and hot bagels to start their day. 

 

Photo credit : Air Canada Foundation

 

In addition to offering a variety of healthy foods, the breakfast programs are also a safe, caring space, contributing to children’s development and growth. Special guests were also on hand to chat with the students during their morning meal. The students were impressed by the employees’ uniforms and amused by Air Canada’s famous inflatable airplane, Lumpy Bumpy! 

  

Photo credit : Air Canada Foundation

 

Testimonials for a Successful Take-off   

Later in the morning, another group of Air Canada volunteers came to meet students at MartinBélanger School. The 5th and 6th-grade classes attended a short presentation on aircraft pilots, flight attendants and station attendant professions. The students displayed curiosity and enthusiasm, engaging in a flurry of questions. It’s a safe bet that these exchanges inspired children to travel, explore cultures and become aviation adventurers. 

Every year, the Air Canada Foundation contributes to children’s well-being through volunteer work and commitment. Their support is invaluable and provides the energy to learn to thousands of students nationwide.  On behalf of the children and Breakfast Club of Canada, thank you for your loyalty.  

Discover the stories behind our other collaborations to learn more about the strength of the Club’s community : https://www.breakfastclubcanada.org/supporters/

Vast majority of Canadians want a national school nutrition program implemented as soon as possible

Boucherville, June 13, 2023 – As we enter the final stretch of the school year, a newly released study commissioned by Breakfast Club of Canada finds that the vast majority (84%) of Canadians say the federal Liberal government should make good on its election campaign promise as soon as possible to provide a $1 billion investment over five years to work towards a national school nutritious meal program.

Despite the Liberal Party of Canada’s promise in the 2021 federal election to invest $1 billion over five years to work towards a national school nutritious meal program, and the progresses made by Ministers Karina Gould and Marie-Claude Bibeau which led to several consultations to seek feedback regarding the development of such a program, no concrete funding has yet been put in place to deliver on that promise. Thus, Canada remains the only G7 country without a school nutrition program.

A majority (77%) of Canadians are upset and disappointed that nothing has yet to be put in place by the government to deliver on the expected meal program—and even one quarter (23%) believe the total amount promised is not enough.

1 in 4 children across Canada is experiencing food insecurity

Nutrition is key to children’s overall health, well-being, and learning. However, many children and youth across Canada are at risk of starting their school day on an empty stomach. In 2022, according to Statistics Canada, 1 in 4 children under 18 lived in a food-insecure household. That amounts to almost 1.8 million children, increasing from the almost 1.4 million in 2021.

Canadians are also firmly believing that the collective of the federal, provincial, and municipal governments should make child and youth hunger and malnutrition a priority (88%), and that students’ well-being should be taken into consideration so school-aged children do not feel stigmatized for receiving what they need (91%). In that regard, half (51%) of Canadians argue that a federal government-funded school nutritious meal program should not just be limited to school children in disadvantaged communities. All in all, Canadians expect the delivery of this collective effort to be provided in a safe, caring environment, centred on students’ well-being.

“We are now in the final throes of the countdown to this year’s school end. If nothing changes, next year just as many, if not more, children will be going to school on an empty stomach, preventing them from improving their learning capacities experiencing less stress, and ultimately being able to reach their full potential,” said Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada. “There has never been a more critical time to invest in school nutrition programs and we urge the federal government to finally commit to a long-term investment for the development of such a program with an immediate investment in the upcoming months.”

About the survey 

This Maru Public Opinion survey conducted on behalf of Breakfast Club of Canada was undertaken by the sample and data collection experts at Maru/Blue. 1,517 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panellists were surveyed from May 24th – 25th, 2023. The results of this study have been weighted by education, age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. When compared to the data tables, discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach more than 580 000 children in over 3,500 school nutrition programs across the country. The ultimate goal: access to a nutritious breakfast for every child, every day. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

 

Source: Breakfast Club of Canada

For further information: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594

Planning for Success

 

As this school year comes to an end, now is the perfect time to be thinking about setting yourself up for a successful reopening of your breakfast program in the fall.

 

In preparation for 2023–2024, consider the following tips and ideas to step into September with a smile: 

  • Hold a recruitment drive to recruit volunteers for your breakfast program.  
  • Reach out to local organizations and businesses for possible partnerships. A good relationship with nearby stores and store managers can help you tap into community discounts, food donations and other sources of support. You might also want to consider asking for donations or assistance in preparing breakfast for your program. 
  • Recognize breakfast program volunteers and thank them for their contributions through Breakfast in Unisson. 
  • Invite students to share why they love their school breakfast and what they would like to see in the program next year.  
  • Empty your fridges and freezers in case there are power outages during the summer. Be sure to unplug them before you leave. 
  • If you have egg coupons, don’t forget to use them before the end of the year. 
  • Store all dried goods in airtight containers out of direct sunlight, and make sure that the expiry dates extend at least until the opening of your program.  
  • Deep-clean all breakfast areas and equipment.  
  • If you don’t operate under a food delivery model, plan your breakfast menus in advance, make a list and stick to it! Your budget will thank you. 
  • Take care of any pending paperwork, sign everything that needs to be signed and update your schedules. For resources and tools, see the Schools Corner of our website. 

 

Have any questions or need support?
Reach out to your BCC coordinator. They have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to help you maximize your breakfast program’s potential!  

 

How to incorporate more vegetables into your morning routine

Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that are about to spring forth! In case you missed it, BCC’s Nutrition Committee recently revised its nutritional guidelines to include a wider variety of vegetables. Vegetables should be a major part of every meal throughout the day, including breakfast. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and are interesting options to explore to bring a touch of originality to your breakfast plate. Read on for a few tips on how to incorporate more vegetables into your morning routine. 

 

Add vegetables to your eggs 

Brighten up your egg recipes with some colourful vegetables. Add peppers, spinach and zucchini to your scrambled eggs, or whip up a seasonal vegetable omelette. Try our recipe for Broccoli Omelette Bites or Cheese and Veggie Egg Cups. And why not explore recipes like shakshuka, a dish that incorporates poached eggs with a vegetable-rich tomato sauce! 

  

Use veggies as a toast topper 

Skip the classic banana/nut butter combo and opt instead for something vegetable-based. Why not try avocado toast with feta cheese, or top your multigrain bread with a layer of hummus and sliced tomato? The possibilities are endless, and there’s something for everyone!  

  

Make breakfast time, sandwich time 

Sandwiches aren’t just for lunch! Use your imagination to create all kinds of combinations. Add grilled vegetables to your grilled cheese or breakfast wrap. Check out our cookbook to try our Breakfast Enchilada or Breakfast Quesadilla recipes.  

  

Veg up your smoothies 

Use vegetables to add a splash of colour to your breakfast smoothies. Spinach or kale are great options for green smoothies. Carrots will make your tropical smoothies look extra sun-kissed and beets will turn your red berry smoothies even redder!  

  

Incorporate vegetables into your baking recipes 

Experiment with recipes for baked goods that contain a secret ingredient: veggie power! Our recipes for Spinach Morning Muffins and Zucchini Bread Scones are good places to start.  

  

Serve vegetables instead of fruit on the side 

Veggies and dip or a summer salad of spinach and raspberries pair perfectly with several breakfast dishes. Vary your sides to include as many vegetables as you do fruit.  

  

Remember, working vegetables into your breakfast not only makes it more nutritious, but it also adds extra flavour and colour to kick-start the morning. So be creative and have fun!  

Salmon Soup

At Breakfast Club of Canada, we are always searching for innovative recipes to share with you — especially ones that highlight cultural diversity and allow students to try foods that are not typically served at breakfast time. So when we discovered these Traditional Foods Fact Sheets, created by the First Nations Health Authority, we knew we had to pass them along! They provide information on traditional food items such as salmon, game meats and plants, along with some tasty recipe ideas. On page 30, there is a wonderful recipe for salmon soup that has proven quite popular in a school breakfast program in BC. 

 

Salmon soup

Credit: Recipe from the First Nations Traditional Foods Fact Sheets.

Ingredients 

  • 4 c. (1 L) water
  • ¼ lb. (125 g) salmon roe
  • 1 lb. (500 g) fresh salmon, cubed
  • ½ lb. (250 g) potato, diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch curry powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp. (15 ml) vegetable oil
  • Dry seaweed for garnish

Preparation 

In a large soup pot, sauté onion, celery and potato in oil. Add water and bring to a simmer. Heat salmon roe in a small saucepan and add to soup stock. Add salmon, salt, pepper, curry powder and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until potatoes are just tender. Discard bay leaf. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with dry seaweed.

Spinach Tofu Smoothie

Add a touch of freshness to your breakfast with this delicious, protein-rich smoothie. It’s a great way of incorporating tofu into the first meal of the day!

Spinach Tofu Smoothie

credit: Adapted from this recipe.

 

Yield

About 6 servings  

Ingredients 

  • 3 c. (750 ml) fresh spinach
  • 2 bananas
  • 1½ c. (350 ml) chopped frozen mango
  • 1 c. (250 ml) chopped frozen pineapple
  • 10 oz. (300 g) soft (silken) tofu
  • 1½ c. milk or soy beverage
  • Fresh mint, optional

Preparation 

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add extra liquid, as necessary. Enjoy! 
    Pair with a serving of whole grains for a complete breakfast!