New food policy means tasty, healthy changes at your school

Beginning September 2011, you will notice changes in the cafeteria and vending machines at your school that will make choosing healthier options easier. Certain foods and beverages will no longer be available, or the recipes will be different. For example, deep fried French fries will be replaced by a baked version. Learn more about the School Food and Beverage Policy and download materials to help spread the word about the changes.

9 ways your SAC can prepare students for healthy changes

1. If you haven’t already, meet with your administration and the staff involved with the School Food and Beverage Policy implementation. Ask to be included in planning meetings.
2. Introduce yourself to the manager of the cafeteria and let them know that you’re aware of the policy. Ask if they would like help to promote the policy and cafeteria changes. Ask if they have any suggestions.
3. Make announcements to tell students about the positive changes. Use the scripts provided on this website or create your own.
4. Set up a booth near or in the cafeteria during lunch hours to provide information about the changes and answer questions. Use the booth to share general nutrition information like Canada’s Food Guide. Use general nutrition facts and information about the policy to create materials for your booth. If possible, arrange for prizes (maybe a free lunch from the cafeteria) and hold a raffle to encourage students to visit your booth.
5. Contact your public health nurse to work on school initiatives in support of the School Food and Beverage Policy. Your nurse will be able to explore with your committee members how to best design an approach for your school. If you don’t have a committee in place, your public health nurse is able to support you as you bring your committee together. Call 905-799-7700 (Caledon: 905-584-2216) to ask which nurse is assigned to your school.
6. Set up a smoothie sample booth at the start of the day in a high-traffic area of the school. Give out samples in small cups and use the opportunity to talk about the benefits of healthy eating and the new policy. Make an announcement the same day to reinforce the purpose of the booth. Download smoothie recipes and the announcement.
7. Work with your cafeteria and school administration to arrange a Try it day. Ask the cafeteria to prepare a menu option that is policy compliant and promote the Try it day in advance. Make arrangements for students who choose to ‘try it’ to receive a ballot for a raffle.
8. Create a bulletin board or display in your school with information about the policy and general health tips. You could use this space to post the weekly menu starting in September to give students a chance to check it out prior to lunch.
9.  Hold a brainstorming session with your SAC or other groups at your school to think of new ways to encourage healthy choices. Share your ideas through PSPC. Send suggestions and templates you create to alison.farbar@peelsb.com so they may be used more widely.

Resources:

• How to run a smoothie sample booth tip sheet
• useful links
• healthy bake sale recipes
• six-page summary of the policy
• Ministry of Education fact sheet on the policy
• table talker template to make your own
• announcement samples
• Ontario Government ad featuring boy's head on older, overweight body
• copy of PowerPoint presented to PSPC on April 19, 2011

Useful links:

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