With the ever-increasing cost of food and living, crafting a meal for the affordable price $1.25 is no easy feat — especially when you want that meal to be nutritious and enjoyable to children as young as seven years old.
But that’s exactly what chef Lisa Dixon has managed to do as the food and nutrition lead for Upbeat!, a free after-school music program led by the Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO).
Running on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year at the KYO’s new home at the New Canadians Centre (St. James United Church) in downtown Peterborough, with transportation available from select schools, Upbeat! provides students in grades 3 to 8 with nutritious food before leading them in high-quality string music lessons. Students get free violin, viola, or cello loans through the KYO and no music experience is required.
“It was (started by) a handful of really dedicated adult musicians that wanted to inspire children who could not afford to play an instrument,” says Dixon, the former owner of Black Honey cafe and bakery in downtown Peterborough, who joined the KSO board last spring. “Upbeat is vetting and looking for those younger kids and getting them warmed up to being a KYO member.”
The program got its footing in 2021 and continued to grow through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant which ran out last June. Since then, KYO has relied on donations to fund the program — including to pay the professional instructors their deserved wage — which was cut back from originally being held three days per week.
With Dixon on the board, one compromise KYO was not willing to make was limiting the food program. Instead, she was determined to find a way to ensure the upwards of 50 children could be fed “well and nutritiously” for $1.25 each. She spent her summer experimenting with the most economic foods that would taste good.
“It’s been fun, and I’ve really worked on making the menu tight and exciting for the kids, but also more healthy,” Dixon says. “And surprises happen. They love tomato soup-like candy! We have to make second batches for them.”
Dixon was able to slim down on the food costs by purchasing in large quantities, but also by receiving donations from farmers. From rice pilaf and egg noodles to cornmeal muffins and hummus, she found some hits that both stayed within her budget but also excited the children.
“They come so hungry after school,” Dixon says. “It was a good year, and the model will be used again (for the upcoming season).”
In revamping the menu, Dixon also changed the service from a buffet to a maître d’ system with assigned tables of mixed ages, each with a leader, to avoid the children forming cliques.
“The maître d’ would come get a tray of food and bring it to the table, and that way, they make sure they all eat properly and if they don’t — or if there’s a kid that’s upset because they don’t like something they’re getting — we can be told about it by the maître d’,” says Dixon. “It fosters leadership and empathy.”
After their snack, the children are split into their groups for ensemble music instruction from the musicians as they work towards a recital over the holiday season and in June.
“The Christmas concert is not bad — the instructors are not hitting it high with expectations so it could be very small, like a little bit of a Bach and then a lullaby — but the kids are excited that they did it,” Dixon says. “But then by June, I’m crying, I’m just so moved by how well they did.”
As the KYO seeks donations to continue running its programs, Dixon explains there are always suggestions about adding fees, though the board members recognize this would take away from the purpose of providing an accessible space for the arts. This, she says, is even more critical since arts education is being stripped away more and more in schools.
“Visual arts, music, and performing at a very young age are really important because it develops a child’s brain — not only for more success in academics, but it develops them socially,” Dixon says, noting how phones and the pandemic may have isolated kids.
“This is really helping a lot of kids. The ones that are feeling successful are the ones that are coming out of (Upbeat!) having learned a little bit about music, but also having learned that much more about communication and really small social skills that will do so much more for them by the time they’re in high school and become young adults.”
For Dixon, the nutritious food component is also a critical aspect of the program, noting that not everybody has good food education in their home. She also knows that sometimes food can be a “scary” or “dangerous” thing if preparing food is a chore or kids are being pushed out of the kitchen.
“Food can be a negative aspect of a child’s life, and I would like that when food is introduced, whether they like it or not, it is made with love and care, and then eventually they will eat it,” Dixon says, noting it’s a point of connection between the children.
“Even if the lentil dahl didn’t quite work, if there’s another kid at the table who is eating it, they can talk about how in their country, it’s a main staple.”
Through these opportunities, Dixon has also seen the kids become introduced to all new foods, and will often send recipes home with the parents, as well as any leftovers from the day.
“That really excites me,” she says. “It’s giving them literacy, it’s giving them security, and it’s giving them nourishment on top of that.”
Registration is now open for the 2025-26 Upbeat! at forms.gle/BGp9gAthZ96DHAdZ6 until Sunday, September 7 . Upbeat! is available for grades 3 to 8, with a wait list available for first and second graders.
Kawartha Youth Orchestra is seeking food donations, instruments (including keyboards), and monetary donations. To donate, visit www.thekyo.ca/upbeat/ or email contactus@thekyo.ca.
