Morning Snacks, Brighter Days: A New Plan for Toronto’s Kids
June 24 2025
If you’ve been following City Council for a while, you might have heard that Toronto is gearing up to launch a universal school food program — a big step toward making sure every student gets a healthy morning meal at school, starting in the 2025-26 school year. The plan is to build on that with a universal lunch program by 2030.
This is huge news, especially for those families where food insecurity is a real challenge. While we’ve seen pockets of breakfast clubs and lunch programs here and there, the truth is, access to these programs hasn’t always been equal or consistent. Some residents assume that certain neighbourhoods do not need this type of assistance but the truth is that every school, even in Etobicoke, there are kids who you would never guess are hungry when they get to school. Every kids deserves a chance and this is a good start.
So, what exactly is happening?
Last Tuesday, June 17, the City’s Executive Committee got a detailed report outlining the city’s vision and strategy to make school meals universal — no matter where you live or go to school. This report was years in the making. Back in October 2024, City Council asked staff to map out a clear plan for tackling food insecurity among students by expanding and coordinating student nutrition programs across all school communities.
The result? A roadmap that lays out how Toronto can offer every school community a universal morning meal program by the 2026-27 school year — that means all schools, including those here in Etobicoke. Then, by 2030, the city wants to make sure every student can get a lunch at school, too.
Why does this matter?
Well, here’s a sobering fact: 1 in 5 children in Toronto lives in a food-insecure household. That’s a lot of kids who may show up to class hungry or not knowing when their next meal will be. Hunger doesn’t just hurt their bodies; it makes focusing, learning, and just getting through the school day that much harder.
Right now, student nutrition programs rely heavily on community volunteers, parents, and local groups — and that means access depends a lot on where you live. Some schools have great programs; others don’t have enough resources.
This new plan is about changing that — making school meals a basic, guaranteed part of every child’s day.
What’s the plan?
The City is putting serious money behind this. Over the next two years, they’re investing $7.5 million to fast-track the rollout of universal morning meals. That money will help schools get the equipment and support they need to run these programs smoothly.
The plan is to start the phased rollout in the 2025-26 school year, aiming for full coverage by 2026-27. Then, the goal is to have a universal lunch program citywide by 2030.
The City isn’t doing this alone. They’re working with local foundations like the Toronto Foundation for Student Success and the Angel Foundation for Learning to make sure the funding actually reaches the programs on the ground.
So, what does this mean for Etobicoke?
For families here, it means kids can count on a healthy morning meal every day at school — no matter which neighbourhood they live in. It means more consistent support from local groups and volunteers who run these programs. And it means less stress on families struggling to put food on the table.
The program is still being shaped, and community voices matter a lot. If you’re a parent, a volunteer, or involved with your school council, now’s a great time to stay engaged and watch for ways to get involved. Your input will help make sure the program works well for Etobicoke kids and families.
At the end of the day, this universal school food program is about more than just meals. It’s about making sure no child in our community goes hungry at school — and that every student has a fair shot at success.
If you want help spreading the word or ideas for how to get involved locally, just reach out. This is a story we all have a role in shaping.
Here is a link to the Agenda Item - https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EX24.3
Here is a link to the full City Council Meeting Agenda - https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2462/25766
Here is a link to the city’s YouTube channel so you can tune into the meeting which will go Wednesday (June 25) and Thursday (June 26)
Yes! This is great news.