Frequently Asked Questions
We asked families and members of school communities for their questions about Nova Scotia’s new School Lunch Program. Here are your most asked questions!
About the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program
What is the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program?
The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is a provincial lunch program that offers public school students in Nova Scotia nutritious and affordable lunch every school day.
Is the program available in all schools?
Schools that are not part of this first phase of the School Lunch Program will join the program in future school years. In the meantime, junior high and high schools will still offer free breakfast.
Are school lunch program lunches affordable?
Lunches are affordable for every family. The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is pay-what-you-can, this means families can choose to pay the full cost of the lunch, pay a part of the cost, or pay nothing.
What you pay is kept confidential from school and lunch program staff. There is no need to explain or prove why your family has chosen to pay the amount you select.
Does the program replace existing school lunch programs?
The School Lunch Program builds on the great lunch programs that were in schools across Nova Scotia. Many of the lunches that students love are part of the new province-wide school lunch program.
All schools still have free breakfast and many of the special food programs are continuing.
Who is making the school lunches?
Each school is unique, with different facilities and lunch operations. The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is flexible and being delivered according to the needs of individual schools. Each school has one of three delivery models for their School Lunch Program:
- School staff make lunches in the school
- An outside company makes lunches in the school
- An outside company makes and delivers lunches to the school
The program model does not affect the menu options, ordering process or quality of lunches.
Is the food locally sourced?
Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are used whenever possible, promoting healthy eating habits and supporting local farmers.
How do schools handle food waste?
The School Lunch Program menu minimizes food waste. The team will also be tracking food waste and making adjustments to make sure there is no unnecessary waste.
Who can I talk to for more information?
You can speak to your child’s school or reach out to your regional School Food Program Lead with any specific questions about the School Lunch Program.
Menu
What kind of meals are provided through the School Lunch Program?
The School Lunch Program offers a rotating menu of 40 lunches, offering families a choice between two options every school day. We are working with chefs and dietitians to make sure all lunches are nutritious and provide students with a mix of familiar favourites and new flavours.
Are there a variety of food options available?
Families can choose between two lunch options every school day. There is one vegetarian (no meat) offered each day. In total, there are 40 menu options that rotate weekly.
Does the program offer hot meals?
Some lunches are hot meals.
What about lunches for students with allergies and dietary restrictions (gluten-free, vegan, halal, kosher, etc.)?
We want all students to be able to take part in the School Lunch Program and have tried to create lunch options that work for as many students as possible.
When ordering, families can see the ingredients in each meal and make the best decision for their child. We can’t guarantee that meals are 100 per cent allergen free due to the risk of cross-contamination.
Is the food healthy and nutritious?
Nova Scotia has a School Food and Nutrition Policy and is developing new Food and Beverage Standards that ensure all food in our schools is healthy and nutritious.
Does the program offer options for picky eaters?
Students and families can see pictures of lunches and a full list of ingredients so they can see and talk about what’s for lunch and decide if they want to order lunch on any given day.
Does the program accommodate cultural food preferences?
We worked with chefs and dietitians to make sure lunches are nutritious and provide students with a mix of familiar favourites and new flavours.
Can I order milk?
You can continue to order milk through your school’s designated milk ordering process. The possibility to include the Nova Scotia School Milk Program in the online lunch ordering system will be explored for future phases of the lunch program.
Ordering
When does ordering start?
How do I place an order?
Please watch this video for a walkthrough of how to place an order.
If you cannot view the video, here are the basic steps to place orders:
- Create an account, or login to your existing account on NSLunch.ca by clicking “Order Now” button and selecting your school region or conseil scolaire.
- Add a Diner Profile for the student and then select “Order Meals Now” for that student to place an order.
- Select meals for each school day for a two-week period. Every day, there will be two choices.
- Confirm your meal selections. You will be able to choose the amount you wish to contribute to the meal, if any. If you choose to pay for the meal, you will be asked to provide your payment information. Once you input your information, click Submit Order to submit your order.
- The student(s) will receive their meals at their school’s designated lunch area.
Do I need to create an account for the online Nova Scotia School Lunch ordering system?
Yes, you need to create an account to use the ordering system and to order a meal.
If you’re a student, you can create an account and log in using your GNSPES account. If you do not have an account, the system will guide you to create one.
Who can order?
Students and families can create an account and order lunches. Schools and regional staff as well as community organizations can also support families and help order lunches on their behalf, if needed.
When can I order meals?
Ordering opens on Friday mornings and closes on Wednesday at noon for meals that will start being served the following Monday. All registered users will receive e-mail reminders when ordering opens and closes.
How do I place orders for more than one student?
You can place orders for multiple students by creating a separate Diner Profile for each student within your account. To do this, log in to your account on the “Diners” section on the main page, click on the “Add” button. Fill in the student’s information and click “Save”. Now on the main page, simply select the “Order Meals Now” button and you’ll be able to place separate orders for each student.
Can I cancel or change my meal order?
Meal orders can be changed or cancelled while the meal ordering window is still open (until Wednesdays at noon). However, once the ordering window closes, no changes or cancellations can be made. Please note that refunds are not provided for orders that have already been submitted, even if they are cancelled or changed while the ordering window is still open. This policy is explained in the cancellation agreement that you acknowledge before placing an order. If a meal is missed, families can choose to pay nothing during the next ordering window to “make up” for it.
Can I share my account so other people can order for my child?
No, each parent or guardian needs their own account to place orders for a student. For security, don’t share passwords and payment information. To prevent double orders, only one person should place a meal order each cycle.
How can I ensure my device is compatible with the online ordering system?
To make sure your device works well with the ordering system, keep your mobile device or computer up-to-date with the latest app, software and operating systems.
Payment
How much do lunches cost?
The cost of a meal is $6.50. Keep in mind that lunches are affordable for every family because the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is pay-what-you-can. After choosing lunches, the ordering system gives families three payment options: pay the $6.50 cost of the lunch, pay a part of the cost, or pay nothing. What you pay is kept confidential from school and lunch program staff.
How does the "pay-what-you-can" model work?
Lunches are affordable for every family because the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is pay-what-you-can. After choosing lunches, the ordering system gives families three payment options: pay the cost of the lunch, pay a part of the cost or pay nothing.
How do I pay?
Lunches are paid for in the online ordering system. After choosing lunches, the ordering system takes you to a payment screen. On the payment screen, you will see three payment options: pay the cost of the lunch, pay a part of the cost, or pay nothing.
You will be able to make a secure payment using:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
- Visa Debit
- Debit Mastercard
Can I get a refund for meals that a student no longer needs or there is a snow day or any unexpected school closure date?
Refunds are not provided for orders that have already been submitted, even if they are cancelled or changed while the ordering window is still open. This policy is explained in the cancellation agreement that you acknowledge before placing an order. If a meal is missed, families can choose to pay nothing during the next ordering window to “make up” for it.
Can I make a donation to the program?
Yes, individuals and businesses can make donations to the Nova Scotia School Lunch Program.
If I make a donation, will I be issued a tax receipt?
Yes, tax receipts will be sent to your mailing address.
Troubleshooting
Why can’t I place meal orders?
If you cannot place orders, it might be because of one of these reasons:
- You haven’t created a Diner Profile for the student. To create a Diner Profile for the student, log in to your account, click on the button “Add Diner”, fill in the student’s information, and click “Save”. Now on the main page, select the “Order Meals Now” to start placing orders.
- The ordering window for the current cycle has already closed. Once the ordering window closes, you won’t be able to place meal orders until the next cycle begins. Please check the ordering schedule for future cycles.
- The school is temporarily closed for certain days/ period. On school closure days, lunch won’t be available, and you won’t be able to select meals for those days during the ordering process.
- Other reasons: If you are still having problems, please contact your region or conseil scolaire by creating a Support Request.
Why can’t I place an order for some days?
On school closure days, lunch isn’t available, and you can’t select meals for those days during the ordering process.
Why can’t I make payment? Who can I contact if I have issues with payment/NS Pay?
If you require further assistance, please contact your region or conseil scolaire by creating a Support Request.
A School Lunch Program Lead from your region or conseil scolaire will respond.
If you have not received any response before the ordering window closes, we recommend submitting your orders with a $0 payment to make sure the order is still processed on time.
I don't know my child's classroom information, which I see is required to set them up as a diner. Where can I find this?
Schools will be sharing classroom information with families at the start of ordering. If you do not receive this information when ordering opens, contact your School Food Program Lead by creating a Support Request.
What happens if a student changes schools?
If a student is changing schools, you can update their profile and select the new school in their diner profile.
If a student is changing school regions or conseil scolaire, then you will need to create new account in the region or conseil scolaire’s ordering system.
Who can I contact for log in/account issues? For example, what if I need to reset my password?
If you are not a student, you can learn how to set up and manage your My NS account or reset your password, at: About My NS Account.
If you require further assistance, contact the 2KEYS helpdesk.
The 2Keys helpdesk is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except holidays)
Telephone (North America):
1-844-322-9375
TTY / TDD Telephone (Hearing Impaired)
1-844-322-9377
If you are a current student and need password help with your GNSPES account, you can get help at: https://www.gnspes.ca/help/. For additional help, you can always contact your Regional Help Desk.
What if I am having issues that I cannot resolve on my own?
If you require further assistance, please contact your region or conseil scolaire by creating a Support Request.
A School Lunch Program Lead from your region or conseil scolaire will respond.