Yellowknife (Sep 20/06) - When MLAs opened their lunch bags at the legislative assembly last October, they got a taste of what school children in NWT were getting for their midday meals.

Premier Joe Handley was given a bagged lunch by NWT Food First Foundation last Fall, as part of an event for a healthy meal program for NWT students. - NNSL file photo

"One was healthy, one was full of processed food, and the other was empty," said Dana Britton, co-ordinator for Food First Foundation NWT.

It was interesting to see the MLAs who received the empty lunch sack asking for food from the other MLAs, she said.

The organization, which is geared towards students across the Northwest Territories from Kindergarten to Grade 12, used the publicity stunt to highlight the plight of some kids.

"When they're fed, they're better able to learn, and less likely to get involved in altercations," Britton said.

The group has been providing healthy meals in the NWT and Nunavut since 1991.

It feeds 1600 students through 18 programs.

The cost to feed a child a healthy meal is $0.85 in the rest of Canada, but almost $2 in the North, Britton said.

The organization has goals planned for the new school year.

"One of them is to promote healthier eating at schools. Another is to promote healthier snacks at sporting events," said Joanne McGrath, chair of the committee.

"We also would like to promote healthy menu options at the schools," she said.

The organization works through fundraisers that are run by the head office in Toronto.

Food First is accepting applications from schools for their programs.

The deadline is Oct. 23.