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!