The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Speaker, I rise to recognize Nutrition Month, celebrated annually to increase public awareness about the importance of healthy eating.

Our government understands that food security is one of the social determinants of health. Guided by recommendations from Health Accord NL, we are improving access to nutritious food for children, adults, and seniors.

We are proud to provide a total of over $2 million annually to the Kids Eat Smart Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the School Lunch Association, which together serve over 50,000 meals and snacks every school day. As part of the Poverty Reduction Plan, we will provide additional funding to ensure school meal programs are available to all Pre-Kindergarten and K-9 students. We have partnered with the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security to improve food access for families in all regions of the province, as well as implementing the Provincial School Food Guidelines.

Speaker, we have provided approximately $2.8 million in funding to support The Gathering Place, which, among other services, serves guests three hot meals seven days a week.

Dietitians are being recruited for family care teams, to collaborate and offer tailored nutritional guidance for clients. We also offer dietitian services to all residents through the Dial-a-Dietitian access on the 811 Healthline.

This year’s theme for Nutrition Month is “We Are Dietitians.” I ask all Honourable Members to join me in thanking our dietitians for their dedication, and acknowledging the key role they play in improving the well-being of residents.