School DayHealth
Outline School Day Meals School Nutrition Policy Fact sheets:
Canada’s Food Guide Healthy Lunches for Children Lunch Box Ideas Nutrition Policy
Physical Activity Mental Fitness Supports & Resources
School Day Meals
PracticeSleep
Bed time & wake-up time
BreakfastTime & foods Lunch
Time & packaging
A shared responsibility
Parents/Adults are responsible for:What, when & where
Children are responsible for:Whether & how much
Breakfast MattersChoose foods from
at least 3 food groups
from Canada’s Food Guide
Examples:•Healthy cereal, milk, banana•Yogurt, bran muffin, apple•Non-traditional (left-over pizza)
Creating Healthy Lunches• Include 3-4 food groups• School milk program• Look beyond the sandwich• Some variety is good, but endless variety is not
necessary• Make your own “lunchable”
• Healthier & less expensive!• Check out your school’s hot lunch program• Limit unhealthy foods (examples: candy, chips,
chocolate).
Healthy Desserts
Dessert can be a way to include fruit, grains and/or milk products.
Examples:
•fruit with yogurt or pudding
•oatmeal cookie or fruit bar cookie
•fruit crisp
•pure fruit bar/dried fruit
•yogurt or pudding tubes
Don’t be fooled by product labels!
Fruit Juices & Fruit Snacks Look again if it says “contains” or “made with” 100% juice! It’s not pure juice if it is a punch, beverage or drink Offer “junior size” juice boxes
Cereal & Other Grain Products It may say “made with” 100% whole grains, but how much is
actually whole grain? “Wheat flour” is any flour made from wheat, including white
flour - so look for whole wheat or whole grains.
To be sure, look at the ingredient list.
Applies to foods and beverages offered and sold by schools
Does not restrict what parents send for lunches/snacks
Foods are placed into one of three categories according to nutritional value and fat, salt and sugar content:
Maximum - Moderate - Minimum Items from the Maximum Nutritional Value category
should always be available.
Moderate foods and beverages can be offered less frequently.
Detailed information is available online.
School Nutrition Policy
Physical ActivityCanadian Guidelines for ages 3-4 years
At least 180 physical activity minutes throughout the day
Less than 1 hour of screen time per day
Limit prolonged sitting to no more than 1 hour per day
By 5 years: 60+ minutes of energetic play
More activity = more benefits
Developing Physical LiteracyCanadian Sport for Life - Active Start stage 0-6 Physical activity is essential for healthy child
development during first six years of life. It should be a fun, safe and challenging part of the child’s
daily routine. At the Active Start stage, children should be encouraged
to run, jump, catch, throw, balance and alter their body shape.
They should try both water and swimming, and ice and snow activities. They should also learn to wheel on a tricycle or bicycle.
Mental Fitness Building Independence & Self-Esteem
A positive outlook helps support your child
Use phrases that expresses your belief in your child
Look for opportunities for your child to shine
Spend time together
Give your child choices
Encourage your child to solve his own problems
Acknowledge your child’s efforts
Mental Fitness Kids Have Stress Too!
Learn to recognize signs of stress in your children
Communicate regularly Parents can help children learn healthy ways to
manage stress
Healthy EatingSupports & Resources School principal District 6 Health Advisory Committee Public Health dietitians’ phone line: 658-2454 (#6) Healthy Learner nurse: Thelma Messer
Online information: Health Canada’s website – for detailed information
on Canada’s Food Guide and label reading Dietitians of Canada website NB School Nutrition Policy (711) available on the
Department of Education website
Resources: Canada’s Food Guide – Health Canada
Search words: Health Canada food guide Printed copies can be ordered from Health Canada
Eating to be Healthy: Healthy Lunches for Children Search words: gnb healthy lunches
Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years
The Psychology Foundation of Canada Parenting for Life Children Have Stress Too!