“We don’t want kids going to school hungry because you can’t learn if you’re hungry. But food is so much more than that. For some of these kids, food is how they feel loved.”
– Jual
Food is Love: Transforming Student Lives with Nutrition and Care
There is something about being able to impact a child. It’s such a powerful thing to be able to do and it feels so darn good to be able to do it – to know that you’re making a difference. So that’s why I’m here, and I’ll be doing this until I retire.
– Jual
As a special education assistant, Jual’s passion is helping children grow, thrive, and feel safe and supported. She’s lucky to get to live out her passion each and every day.
Working in a classroom where children have intensive needs means that no two days ever look the same. Some days it’s as simple as modeling good manners, sometimes it’s trying to find new ways of explaining concepts to help them learn, and other days, it’s taking a firmer approach. But whatever the day brings, there’s one thing that always makes a difference: food.
Regina Food For Learning (RFFL), a Youth+Us partner is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to feeding hungry children in Regina, Saskatchewan schools. Since 1988 RFFL has provided over 3 million snacks, breakfasts, or lunches to thousands of children in response to requests from the schools.
“Everybody who looks at food, looks at the basic need that’s being met,” shares Jual. “We don’t want kids going to school hungry because you can’t learn if you’re hungry. But food is so much more than that. For some of these kids, food is how they feel loved.”
The role of nutrition in learning and emotional well-being
Research has shown that there is a profound intersection between nutrition, emotional support, and learning outcomes. For many students, food at school is more than sustenance; it’s a source of comfort, equality, and a means to combat food insecurity and its associated stigma. Jual is reminded daily how a simple snack can transform a student’s demeanor from agitated to calm, improving their ability to focus and engage in learning activities. She notes how certain foods, like crunchy vegetables, can even help children ground themselves during stressful moments.
This is further exemplified by the experiences shared by Jual, who sees the impact first hand.
“We’ve got a young man who comes in hot, and it escalates from there. He’s yelling and looking for somebody to fight with. And we have found that if you pull out the foods you know he likes, or even have it prepared beforehand sitting on his desk, he will make his way over there. Once he starts eating, you see everything slow and calm down, and then the smile will appear.”
Jual shares another story of working with a child who was in fight mode.
“It was not a wonderful afternoon. It was one of those days where you’re counting down the minutes. This one young man was madder than heck at me. And he goes to take off for his cab and you can hear him muttering under his breath, but then he stops and he turns around and stomps back to me and gives me a hug. And he says, ‘I love you, Miss Jual’. So even when it feels like he’s not listening, even when it feels like I’m not making a difference – the difference is somewhere inside of him.”
Food is love
Looking ahead, Jual envisions a future where every child has access to the emotional support and nourishment they need to thrive academically and emotionally. She believes that investing in education and holistic support systems is essential for building resilient communities and nurturing future generations of productive citizens.
I would have trouble imagining a program that would be more important to have in our public schools than this particular one,” says Jual. “It is so necessary for so many kids and it changes lives. I can’t speak enough about what a wonderful job they do at Regina Food For Learning. Every dollar that is given that way from K+S Potash Canada, I know how much it’s appreciated, both at that level and then down at our level too. So thank you.
– Jual
Programs like Regina Food For Learning help to get kids further ahead in life. In the end, it’s about more than just teaching—it’s about empowering and uplifting every child, one snack and one supportive moment at a time.
