Why have a Healthy School Food Program?

In 2004 the provincial government launched the Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures All-Party Task Force to engage Manitobans across the province in talking about how to promote healthy eating and active living for young people. The task force report was released in June 2005. As one strategy to address healthy eating, the task force recommended that the provincial government increase access to nutritious foods in schools. Specifically it called on government to require all schools to have a written school food and nutrition policy as part of their school plan.

To see all the Task Force recommendations on school nutrition, click here

Why is food and nutrition important in your school?

Over the course of a school year a student may eat up to 200 lunches at school, eat food at numerous parties, dances or cultural events, buy food and beverages from vending machines, attend a breakfast or snack program, receive food as a classroom incentive or reward, and sell food products for fundraising.

That adds up to around 100,000 eating events in Manitoba schools every day. Offering and promoting healthy food and drink choices throughout the school day is therefore a big step to improve the nutrition of children.

The importance to the health of children of eating nutritious well balanced diets has long been recognized. Recent research underlines the relationship between nutrition and cognitive development and supports claims that poor nutrition is associated with poorer learning outcomes.

While research-based knowledge is accumulating there is much experiential evidence based on the observations of classroom teachers, community nutritionists and others who work with school-aged children. Educators have related decreased attention spans and poor student performance to hunger and to missed meals.

The diet of children and youth is an important influence on their current and future health. Poor nutrition can put young people at risk of developing childhood obesity, malnutrition, disordered eating, type 2 diabetes, iron deficiency anaemia and dental cavities. When poor eating habits are established in childhood, they often carry to adulthood, where heart disease, diabetes and several types of cancer can develop as a result.

Healthy Eating Statistics

• Good eating habits in childhood and youth have immediate and long-term benefits.
• Children who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their overall daily nutritional requirements.
• Only one-half of boys and two-thirds of girls report eating fruit five days a week or more.
• Children eat less fruit and vegetables as they get older.
• Soft drink consumption increases dramatically in boys between grades 6 and 10.
• Older students, especially girls, tend to skip breakfast more often.
• One in two grade 10 girls are on a diet or think they need to lose weight.
• 50% of boys and girls report not drinking enough milk.
• In the last twenty years, intake of soft drinks has more than doubled.
• Food is the most advertised product to children on TV. There are almost no ads for fruit and vegetables, milk, or whole grain products.
• Childhood obesity in Canada has tripled over the past 20 years. 33% of 7-13 year old males and 27% of females are overweight. 10% of 7-13 year old males and 9% of females are obese.
• Obesity leads to poor health, lower quality of life, and lower life expectancy.

The role of the school:

• Help students to establish a pattern of eating that focuses on balance, variety and moderation.
• Promote responsible eating patterns, consistent with what is taught in the school curriculum.
• Be an institutional role model to students, educators, parents and communities about the importance and value of healthy eating.
• Provide opportunities for learning, practicing and establishing healthy eating habits for a lifetime