One day, in viewing the lunches of some of the students, I was taken aback by the number of sugared drinks and packaged sweets that the parents had given their children to eat. The grade 2 teacher, Kelsey, explained to me how challenging it is for these families on a limited budget to buy nutritious food, and therefore they are often forced to buy cheaper items which are less nutritious. Without access to reliable transportation, the families are not able to take advantage of grocery sales and as a consequence, frequently end up purchasing less costly processed foods which are high in fat and sugar content, or food which will keep longer, while sacrificing fruits, vegetables and sometimes milk. Kelsey verbalizes her concerns that many of the low-income children are not always getting all of the nutrients that they should have in their diet for healthy development.

The families report buying some of their groceries in the small high-priced neighbourhood store several times a week for convenience reasons, including regular purchases of snack items like potato chips and soft drinks. Jane points out the practical reasons why she often does not have milk for her children, "Pepsi is cheaper and it keeps longer." Without access to a vehicle to pick up fresh milk, Jane routinely offers her children soft drinks when milk runs out before she goes shopping again.

Julie and Natalie enjoy cooking balanced meals for their families; the other parents state that they do not enjoy cooking and often eat fried or processed foods that are quick and easy to prepare. Although they live within walking distance to a popular fresh fruit and vegetable store, none of the parents go there. Doug commented on his dental problems which prevent him from eating crunchy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, that require chewing and strong teeth. Consequently, Beth, who does the grocery shopping, tends to buy few of these items that would have been healthy and manageable for her children and her.