In Canada, there is no national/federal school nutrition policy or
school feeding program; rather provincial/territorial jurisdictions are
responsible for developing policies to regulate and manage school
food. Research and policy activity in the Canadian province of Nova
Scotia (NS) provide a timely opportunity to explore the relative impact
of a nutrition policy on children's health behaviors and weight status
over time . Provincial results from the 2003
Children's Lifestyle and School Performance Study I (CLASS I)
helped to inform
new policies and investments related to school health over the past decade
in NS. The Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools
was introduced in 2006, with full implementation expected in all public
(state) schools by 2009.