Where does the summer go? Somehow, here we are, into September. A new school year full of learning, new adventures and new challenges. Finding ways to cut the costs of healthy groceries can be important because proper nutrition is a key step in making sure our children can learn properly. While some schools provide school cooking programs in the lower mainland, not all school districts have these programs. Read below for ways to explore the programs available in Vancouver school districts, and for resources to explore cheap meal ideas for your children’s lunch boxes.
School programs available in Surrey, BC
If you’re looking to get involved in some meal support programs within your school district or community, you can get a referral to our clinic and work with our social worker or dietitian to explore options within your community. Here are some places to get started:
- Starfish Program
A program that identifies children in need, and provides backpack meals for these children. For more information, please contact:
- Contact: Rose McKeen
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 604-617-5274
- Breakfast Club
Breakfast clubs are offered at select inner city schools within the Surrey school district. Students are invited to be a part of these breakfast clubs by their schools. Meals include a mix of foods from the different food groups within Canada’s food guide, and typically include items such as milk, yogurt or eggs and whole grain cereals.
Please contact your school administration to find out if your child’s school participates in these programs, and if your child is eligible for an invitation to be involved.
- Surrey Food Bank “Basics for Babies & Tiny Bundles Program” Technically not a “school meal” program, but it is a program that can provide some benefits to families with children. Families with pregnant moms, and children <1 year old can pick up weekly. Families with pregnant moms, and children >1 year old can pick up every 2 weeks. Products include basics such as formula, baby food, milk and eggs. Program runs Wednesdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm
For more information, please contact:
- Address: 13478 78 Ave, Unit #1
- Phone: 604-581-5443
- AHP Matthew Elementary School Offers a Surrey School Meal Programs which help provide nutritious meals through breakfast and lunch programs.
For more information, please contact:
- Address: 13367 97 Ave
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 604-595-5300
- Bear Creek Elementary Offers School Meal Programs to students through nutritious breakfast and lunch options. For more information, please contact:
- Address: 13780 80 Ave
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 604-595-5300
Ideas for cheap breakfast options:
Wondering where to start? Meals don’t have to be complicated or expensive, but sometimes we don’t know where to start, and that can be the most challenging part.
- Frozen fruit smoothie
cost per serving: $4.10
Blend the following together and enjoy
- 1 banana
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 1 ½ cups milk of your choice
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1 tbsp Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
Berries are a great source of Vitamin C, an important antioxidant to help keep our immune system strong as we head into flu season. Also, buying them frozen can be a great cost saving! We werethankful to Manitoba Harvest who helped sponsor our September workshop by providing us with hemp hearts to share with our clients. Hemp hearts are a great source of plant protein, fiber, and omega 3! Omega 3 and protein are vital for our brain and fiber helps keep us full, and feed our healthy gut bacteria.
- Frozen yogurt and banana
cost per serving: $1.50
Buy 1 bunch of bananas. Chop in half and stick a popsicle stick into one side of the banana half. Take a bowl of greek yogurt and coat the banana halves full of greek yogurt. You can top with additional ingredients such as peanut butter, chopped chocolate or chopped nuts. Greek yogurt acts as a good source of protein, and bananas can provide some fiber and complex carbohydrates for energy. Place banana halves with yogurt onto baking sheets and freeze for two or more hours.
- Whole grain toast with peanut butter
cost per serving: $1.90
Toast 2 of your favourite whole grain breads and slather on some natural peanut butter. I like brands that have at least 4g of fiber per slice of bread. Fiber is important to help slow digestion, keeping us full for longer and preventing big spikes and drops in energy levels. For your peanut butter, look for options that include only nuts, or only nuts and a little salt. Other peanut butters may include a variety of ingredients such as hydrogenated oils and added sugars which are best to avoid in large amounts.
** above prices use an average price of groceries in 2024 with costs used from IGA
Note: IGA has helped sponsor some of our cooking events at EFry Health so a big shout out to them for their support! If you’re interested in supporting and sponsoring our EFry Health cooking classes, please reach out to me, the dietitian at EFry Health at [email protected] and I’d love to explore how we can work together to support our clients nutrition needs.
For more information, or to become a client, you can reach out to us at Phone: (604)282-3944 Fax: 1-888-705-3423 Email: [email protected].
Address: #101 9683 137th Street, Surrey BC, Canada V3T G8
Written by
Carla Centola, RD
Registered Dietitian