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Elementary Schools
Networking Meetings
Networking meetings with school teams (a teacher, administrator and parent) were key during the development of the school nutrition policy. School teams provided input on the policy and the documents that they needed to support the policy. The support documents resulted in The School Healthy Eating Toolkit.
Since the policy has been adopted the Healthy Eating Alliance provide awareness and support of the school nutrition policy through healthy eating initiatives, one on one school support, Policy Newsbites newsletter, email and website."
SNAP Research Project
The SNAP (School Nutrition and Physical Activity) Project evaluating school nutrition policies in PEI elementary and consolidated schools is gearing up for a follow-up to the SNAP 1 (2007) survey and SNAP 2 (2010) survey, where they assessed food habits and weight status in grade 5 and 6 children. This year, they completed 33 individual school level reports for principals on school adherence to the school nutrition policy as well as the student level data, based on 2007 and 2010 surveys of principals and students. This information has been presented to principals and to the school districts. The SNAP team is currently preparing a composite government report.
Healthy Eats Newsbites
The Healthy EatS (Eating at Schools) Newsbites are newsletters that were developed to update elementary/consolidated school staff of the policy development process in all PEI school boards, to provide schools with an opportunity to share their ideas on promoting healthy eating at school, and to inform schools of the development of the School Healthy Eating Toolkit (a healthy eating resource and policy implementation guide). The Healthy EatS Newsbites continue to be a means to share schools’ stories about promoting healthy eating and act as a tool to communicate healthy eating resources with schools.
Originally, copies of each Newsbites were provided to all elementary school staff but due to high production costs we now print limited numbers for school staff and encourage them to check it out in our website.
View Healthy EatS Newsbites
Handouts for Parents
Healthy Eating Tips for School Newsletters
Monthly healthy eating tips are developed annually by the Healthy Eating Alliance for elementary/consolidated schools to include in school newsletters. One tip for each month of the school year is prepared and all 10 tips are circulated to schools at the beginning of the school year.
View School Healthy Eating Tips
Sample tip:
Healthy Eating Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance for October 2007
Mom Was Right About Breakfast!
What simple activity can help students learn better, focus better and retain more at school, have more energy and decrease the number of days lost because of illness? Eating breakfast! Breakfast provides children with the energy and nutrients necessary to perform their best at school and play. However, preparing a balanced breakfast can be a challenge when mornings are busy. Aim for three of the four food groups in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. Planning ahead can help breakfast preparation go quickly and smoothly. Here are a few ideas:
- Keep the kitchen stocked with a variety of whole grain ready-to-eat cereals and bread products.
- Put out dishes and non-perishable foods like cereals the night before.
- Pre-mix pancake batter or scrambled egg mixtures and store in the fridge for the next morning.
- Keep cut up fruit in the fridge for a breakfast fruit salad or for a smoothie.
- Pre-mix dry ingredients for muffins the night before. Add liquids and bake in the morning.
Smoothies can be fast, fun, and a healthy breakfast choice. Grab a muffin, cereal bar or a handful of nuts and you are set to go!
Mixed Berry Smoothie
- 1 cup (250 ml) mixed berries
- ½ cup (125 ml) low fat yogurt
- ¼ cup (50 ml) orange juice
- 1 tsp (5 ml) honey
Blend together until smooth. Serves 2.
Source: Food Network website (www.foodnetwork.com)
Chocolate Bananarama
- 1 ½ cups (375 ml) cold chocolate milk
- 1 sliced banana
- Blend until smooth. Serves 2.
Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada brochure
Check out the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance website at www.healthyeatingpei.ca