School Nutrition
Healthy Children
All children need good nutrition to grow and develop to their full potential. Children, like adults, naturally come in different body shapes and sizes; however a child who is overweight or obese should see their medical doctor for assessment and follow up.
Canada’s Food Guide
The 2019 Canada's Food Guide and a wealth of reliable nutrition information are available at Health Canada’s website https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/
Implementing the School Nutrition Guidelines
Schools must apply the Guidelines to all food or beverages sold to students in British Columbia public schools and at all school-sanctioned events.
All public schools in BC are required to ensure that the food and beverages sold to students meet the criteria set out in the Guidelines.
| School Nutrition Guidelines apply to all school-sanctioned events where food is sold, including: | School Nutrition Guidelines do not apply to: |
|---|---|
These Guidelines apply to everyone selling food to students, at all locations. |
|
FOODS THAT CAN'T BE SOLD AT SCHOOL OR SCHOOL EVENTS
These foods do not meet the standards in the BC Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales and cannot be sold. This is not a complete list.
- Candy, and other confections made of sugar like Cotton Candy, lollipops, etc.
- Soft drinks, sports drinks and waters with added sugar
- Fruit drinks that contain less than 100% fruit juice and have added sugar (fruit punches and cocktails)
- Pastry, tarts, pies, doughnuts, sweet pastries and similar foods that are high in sugar and/or fat
- Cookies and baked goods made with recipes that have not be adapted to reduce sugar and fat content.
- Sugar-coated popcorn
- Chocolates and chocolate bars
- Fruit snacks made with added sugar
- Gelatin desserts made with sugar
- Processed cheese spread and processed cheese slices.
- Fried Foods of any kind, including Fried Potato Chips, Fried French Fries, Fried Onion Rings,
- Fried Desserts
- Instant Noodle Soups
- Pizza with high amounts of fat from oiled crusts, extra cheese and/or meat toppings
- Extra salad dressing, mayonnaise or rich sauces
- Very salty foods and ingredients like cured meats, pickles, soups, and foods sprinkled with added salt like potato chips and crackers.
- Any foods or beverages that are "super-sized"
The Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools are available at:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/2013_food_guidelines.pdf
Resources
-
a-quick-overview-of-school-nutrition-2016.056dd511764.pdf - healthier-food-choices-for-special-events-at-schools-may-2015.20076611765.pdf
- nutritional-criteria-for-the-guidelines-for-food-and-beverage-sales-2013.223ad511766.pdf
- sample-lunch-menus-using-the-school-nutrition-guidelines.32885911767.pdf
- the-good-snack-guide.fbf28911768.pdf
- tips-for-healthier-bake-sales.b3d89511769.pdf
Useful Links
- Brand Name Food List provides nutrition ratings for packaged and franchised foods and beverages to help you find Choose Most and Choose Sometimes items that meet BC's nutrition standards for school events.
- Healthy Eating at School website provides a wealth of information about the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools, and resources to help make it happen. Click here.
- ActionSchoolsBC provides more opportunities for more children to make healthy choices more often.
- Dietitians of Canada offers useful tools and scientifically proven nutrition information that you can use for a lifetime of good health. Click here to follow the link.
- Click here for Bake Better Bites, a resource for healthy recipes for bake sales and home use.
- For healthy party ideas, click on this link.
- Sport Nutrition in Action
- The NEW Food Guide: Has Everything Changed?
