Working together to build food security in Nova Scotia : Participatory food costing 2004/05

The intent of this report is to examine the cost and affordability of a nutritious diet in Nova Scotia, and compare this to findings in 2002 (6). [...] Participatory food costing has proven to be successful in building the individual capacity of those involved to identify the issues they are facing and the policies that are at the root of the problem. [...] To explore the availability of locally-produced food, food costers collected data on the local availability of some of the fruits, vegetables, and meat products listed in the NNFB. [...] Unfortunately changes in income assistance policies in Nova Scotia in 2001 resulted in the discontinuation of IA benefits for children and the inability of the CTB to serve its intended purpose (58). [...] This data collection will be continued, due to the work of those in the community who have driven this project forward and the foresight of the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection as they have agreed to support recommendations in Healthy Eating Nova Scotia (82), which identified food security as one of four priority areas for the province.