School has an important influence
on what children eat. The Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum
(1998) includes a healthy eating component. These activities will
help reinforce this in class education. For example: children taught
in class about nutritious snacks need to see them featured during school
events. How supportive are your school activities in promoting healthy
eating?
This newsletter will share with
you what some school communities are doing and how they are going about
it. These Healthy Eating Activities encourage students, staff and
parents to eat a healthier diet and help others do so. Every child
needs healthy food because it’s hard to learn on an empty stomach.
Who are Involved in these School-Based Healthy Eating Activities?
|
Volunteers/People
in the Neighbourhood |
|
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| Healthy Eating Action Ideas! |
School staff and parents know that
poor eating habits throughout the day lead to fatigue, increased restlessness,
and reduced comprehension and attention
in class. The result can be low scholastic achievement and
future
health problems. When asked
why schools offer feeding programs in our community, frequent answers are:
| Provide
nutritious food at a minimal price.
Help the children eat better. Offer readily available healthy alternatives to junk-food. Enhance student organization and management skills. Empower children and families to care for themselves and each other. Be a good role model to the children. Many felt that chip and pop sales gave the wrong message about healthy food choices. Encourage social interaction Educate the public on creative ways in which children can be adequately and properly nourished, both in school and at home. |
| Link
up with other interested staff, parents, the public health nutritionist
and/or citizens' groups.
Survey your school community for interest and needs. Find out who would be interested in helping. Designate one key person to be in charge of the project. Someone has to be consistently responsible. Keep it simple. Get organized before you start your program. Prepare a budget. Start small. Expand as needed and as your budget allows. Visit a school with a similar program. Check out equipment needs. Ensure all food safety requirements are met. Obtain community sponsorship. |
Healthy Eating Programs
Milk Programs
A simple milk program can definitely enrich a student's nutrient intake. Just one glass of milk adds 15 essential nutrients to a child's daily intake. From a practical standpoint, many parents who send lunches to school for their children find it difficult to include fluid milk. A leaky thermos or a thermos which doesn't keep the milk cold enough results in an unacceptable product, from the child's point-of-view. Pop and flavoured drinks become an easy but non-nutritious solution.
Recommendations for a Successful
Milk Program
| Keep
it simple.
Order milk bi-weekly. Have milk delivered 2 to 3 times per week (helps to deal with the sour milk problem). Appoint a co-ordinator, who is keen. Involve the older students. Use it as an educational opportunity. Organize carefully, before starting your program. Obtain a fridge with a lock that’s in good working order (some suppliers provide a fridge). Check out different suppliers. Make sure they will deliver at regular, convenient times. Some suppliers will provide recyclable containers or will pick up used containers. Some schools find the advance ticket sales method works well. Other schools prefer paid in advance order forms. Contact the Dairy Farmers of Ontario regarding milk programs. They have resources to assist you. 1-800-361-4632. |
Snack Shelf
The very simplest Healthy Eating
Action plan is the snack shelf. Keep a well-stocked, long-shelf life
selection of
healthy snacks in each classroom
or in one easy-to-access place in the school. For whatever reason
then, a hungry
child can easily be fed. Again,
community sponsorship could help get this working for you or you could
also organize
it as a sharing shelf. Have
the children bring in some healthy foods for a sharing shelf.
For healthy ideas to stock your shelf with, contact your public health nutritionist at (705) 743-1000.
Healthy Drink and Snack
Concession Stand
Many
schools in Peterborough County sell food as a fundraiser. Concern
has been expressed by parents, children and school staff about the quality
of these foods. However, the concept is great, just be careful in
your food choices, as these snacks might just be a major part of a child’s
diet. Plus, if a school sells a certain food, it is often interpreted
that the school endorses its consumption.
Good Food Choices for a Concession Stand
| Fruit
Juice
Sparkling Mineral Water Sparkling Fruit Juice Pretzels Trail Mix |
Popcorn
Cereal Mixtures Nuts 'n Bolts Crackers & Cheese Packages Oatmeal Cookies |
School Food Nutrition
Policy
A school food/nutrition policy provides
guidelines for dealing with food and nutrition issues in schools.
It helps create an environment where children can practice healthy eating
habits and show a commitment to student health.
Sample Food Policy
Good Nutrition
is important for growth, development and learning. We believe that
this school has a responsibility to foster and support healthy eating practices
by:
- providing nutrition education for all grader and,
- offering nutritious foods for all food-related events.
Food For Kids' Breakfast
Clubs
Consider organizing
a breakfast club if your school is in a community where:
- a great number of children are bussed in;
- the children indicate a lack of time to eat breakfast;
- the community feels breakfast at school would benefit their children.
Tips for Starting a Breakfast Club
| Provide
nutritious and safe food regardless of family income status.
Start small. If you can show your program works, community interest and sponsorship will increase. Advertise the program. Let all parents know about it. Keep the menu simple to avoid food spoilage. Devise an easy way for children to join. The more successful, long term programs encourage family participation through financial and/or time contributions. A breakfast club should be a community organized and run program. The community must feel ownership and responsibility. Get help. You'll need about 2-4 volunteers for every 20-25 children. |
Celebrate with Good Food
Days
Special
lunches are staple fundraisers for many schools. Congratulations
to all the schools that offer pizza, submarine, lasagna, and hamburger
days. It is wonderful for the children to be able to purchase a hot
lunch once in a while. The better programs offer milk and chocolate
milk as the beverage choice. Negotiate with a local restaurant to
provide healthy menu items for your school. Again, the “What It Takes”
principles apply to starting up or improving the Good Food Days at Your
School. Be a great role model! Think healthy eating and taste
as you plan your days.
Good Food Fundraisers
Selling
food to raise money implies that the food is worthwhile. Instead
of selling high fat foods like chocolate bars or chocolate covered almonds,
consider selling more nutritious foods like cheese or fruit. Many
schools are using non-food items for fundraising.
| Visit
your school community to discuss different Healthy Eating Action Plans,
ie. staff meetings, parent meetings, student meetings.
Help your local group do a community interest and needs survey. Offer suggestions for nutritious foods to be served. Link your group up with other partners, ie. food companies, service clubs. Provide guidance on the development of School Healthy Eating Guidelines. |
Congratulations to all schools who are already ”Schools for Healthy Eating”. Keep up the great work!
For those of you who would like to discuss some Healthy Eating Action Ideas for your school, please give us a call at 743-1000. Ask for your Public Health Nutritionist, Carolyn Doris ext 251.
Last Revised/Reviewed
Wednesday, 2008-07-09 1:53 PM