Healthy Living E-Bulletin October 2010
Theme: Healthy Eating in School

E-Bulletin Archives

• Welcome
• Fast Facts
• Feature Article: Comprehensive School Health and Nutrition
• Healthy Living Best / Promising Practices and/or Evidence-based Practices: Sip Smart! BC, Comprehensive Policy Suite (BC)
• Provincial and Territorial Government Updates
• Federal Government Updates
• Key Dates & Events
• Research and Resources

Welcome

Welcome to the Healthy Living E-bulletin, a newsletter designed to keep healthy living stakeholders informed on efforts to promote physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weights across the country. It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on behalf of the Healthy Living Issue Group (HLIG) of the Intersectoral Healthy Living Network. 

This edition focuses on healthy eating in schools and highlights significant efforts currently underway in Canada. Schools, like other settings and contexts, where people live, learn and play, are recognized as a key setting to promote and support healthy eating. Collaborative efforts between schools, parents, governments in health and education sectors and non-governmental organizations are critical to successful action on healthy eating in schools.

We want to hear from you! Please send your comments and feedback to our editor at: healthyliving.viesaine@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Fast Facts

Research supports the relationship between nutrition and cognitive development.

Poor nutrition is associated with poorer learning outcomes.

There is a positive relationship between overall dietary intake and academic performance. 

Florence, M.D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P.J. (2008) Diet quality and academic performance. J. School Health. 78: 209-215. 

Bellisle, F. (2004) Effects of diet on behaviour and cognition in children, British Journal of Nutrition. Suppl. 2: S227-S232.

Sorhaindo, A.. &  Feinstein, L. (2006) What is the relationship between child nutrition and school outcomes? Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning. Institute of Education,  London, UK.
 
Taking a comprehensive approach to supporting healthy eating in the school setting can have an impact on healthy eating, such as fruit and vegetable intake. 

Day, M.E., Strange, K.S., McKay, H.A. & Naylor, P.J.  (2008)  Action schools! BC--Healthy Eating: effects of a whole-school model to modifying eating behaviours of elementary school children.  Can J of Public Health. 99(4):328-31. 

Involvement and support from teachers, principles, school food service staff and students are essential for the successful implementation of school food policies.

Maclellan, D., Taylor, J. & Freeze, C. (2009) Developing school nutrition policies: enabling and barrier factors. Can J Diet Pract Res. 70(4):166-71.

Moore, S., Murphy, S., Tapper, K. & Moore, L.  (2010)   From policy to plate: barriers to implementing healthy eating policies in primary schools in Wales.  Health Policy. 94(3):239-45.

Fitzgerald, E., Bunde-Birouste, A. & Webster, E.  (2009)  Through the eyes of children: engaging primary school-aged children in creating supportive school environments for physical activity and nutrition. Health Promot J Austr. 20(2):127-32.

Feature Article

Comprehensive School Health and Nutrition

Written by Paul Fieldhouse, Nutrition Policy & Research Consultant from Manitoba Health & Healthy Living

Nutrition, health and learning

Over the course of a school year a student may eat up to 200 lunches at school, consume 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 a large number of eating events in schools every day [around 100,000 in Manitoba alone]. Offering and promoting healthy food and drink choices throughout the school day can therefore make a big contribution toward improving the nutritional status and overall health of children.

CLICK HERE to read more about Comprehensive School Health and Nutrition.

Healthy Living Best / Promising Practices and/or Evidence-based Practices

Sip Smart! BC – Sip Smart! BC is an on-going program that was developed in September 2008 by the BC Paediatric Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon with funding from the BC provincial government. Sip Smart! BC is a curriculum based education module for elementary students, grades four to six. It teaches students to “sip smart” and reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. The module includes three interactive classroom sessions and a take home parent booklet to emphasize healthy habits in the classroom and in the home. Over 6,000 students have already learned to “sip smart” in BC. Preliminary results show that students know what’s healthier to drink and have begun to reduce use of sugar sweetened beverages. For educator and parental resources and more information, visit www.bcpeds.ca/sipsmart/ 

Comprehensive Policy Suite – The Comprehensive Policy Suite is a program implemented across British Columbia. Targeting schools, public facilities such as recreation centres and sporting events, the Comprehensive Policy Suite consists of a series of guidelines, many of which are mandatory. The program aims to make “the healthy choices the easy choice” in settings where children learn and play. The foundation of the guidelines is to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, decrease junk food consumption, increase access to healthy food and support the local food supply system. A few of these guidelines include: School Food & Beverage Guidelines, Guidelines for Vending in Public Buildings, and School Meal Program Guidelines. For information about healthy eating resources in BC, visit www.hls.gov.bc.ca/healthyeating/resources.html

Provincial and Territorial Government Updates

British Columbia

Farm to School Salad Bar – The Farm to School Salad Bar is an on-going program delivered by the Public Health Association of BC, with funding from the BC provincial government and ActNow BC aimed at improving children’s access to locally-grown, culturally- appropriate foods in schools. The goal is to increase accessibility of fresh vegetables and fruits in school meals and cafeteria programs while expanding student awareness about healthy eating, local food, agriculture and seasonality. For more information, visit www.phabc.org/modules.php?name=Farmtoschool

School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program – This program is administered by the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation with provincial funding. It provides a BC-grown vegetable or fruit snack to students from kindergarten to grade 12 twice per week every other week, for a 14-week period. This initiative provides opportunities for students to taste a variety of vegetables and fruit and to enhance their knowledge about healthy snack options. For more information, visit www.aitc.ca/bc/snacks/

Action Schools! BC – Healthy Eating – Action Schools! BC is a provincially funded initiative and best practices model designed to assist schools in creating individualized action plans to promote healthy eating and physical activity. The Healthy Eating component focuses on improving students’ knowledge, awareness and preference for vegetables and fruit through creative and inclusive healthy eating activities. For more information, visit www.actionschoolsbc.ca

School meal programs – Through the school meal programs, healthy food and beverages are made available to vulnerable students through provincial funding from the CommunityLINK program. Depending on school and local needs, the program may be a hot lunch, bagged lunch, breakfast or snack program. The School Meal and School Nutrition Program Handbook provides nutrition guidelines for school meal programs. To view the School Meal and School Nutrition Program Handbook, visit www.bced.gov.bc.ca/communitylink/pdf/smph.pdf or for more information about the CommunityLINK program, visit www.bced.gov.bc.ca/communitylink/

School Guidelines Support Initiative – The School Guidelines Support Initiative is led by the Dietitians of Canada, BC region, with funding from the BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA), to assist schools with the implementation of the provincial mandatory school nutrition guidelines. Within this initiative, the Brand Name Food List was created to inform vendors, schools and parents of what foods are appropriate to be served in school as well as to offer useful resources. Other supports provided in the School Guidelines Support Initiative include a call centre at Dietitian Services, HealthLinkBC and resources to meet identified target group needs such as Bake Better Bites. For more information, visit the BCHLA and BC Healthy Eating at School websites at www.bchealthyliving.ca and www.healthyeatingatschool.com

Alberta

Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth and Portion Size Kit – In 2008/2009 Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth were distributed to all schools, recreational facilities and day cares in English and French. The goal of distributing the guidelines was to help facilities develop policies that support healthy food choices for children and youth. To assist with the implementation of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth, a Portion Size Kit was developed by Alberta Health and Wellness. As a resource to promote appropriate serving sizes of foods for children and youth, each Portion Kit includes a set of common items that represent portion sizes and a set of 40 food portion cards.

The Portion Kit was distributed in spring 2010 to child care centres and schools and serves as a visual tool to demonstrate appropriate portion sizes for a variety of foods. To view the Nutrition Guidelines and Portion Size Kit, visit www.health.alberta.ca/documents/Nutrition-Guidelines-2008.pdf and
http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/sss/teamingup/docs/portionsizekitactivities.pdf

Healthier Choices for Student Cafeteria – Cliff Oak, the Food Service Operations manager at the Innisfail Sr. High School, took the lead in establishing a healthier cafeteria menu for students and staff by offering healthier food items. This includes homemade breads and buns using local wheat ground into flour at the school, as well as using school-grown produce (lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers) for the cafeteria soups and salad bars. Students were consulted at the start of this process through meetings with student council and staff representatives. Since this program was implemented, the cafeteria has increased its sales (tripling over the past couple of years), food service students are aware of the need to consider offering healthy food and the cost of produce has been reduced by using produce grown within the school. For more information about this initiative contact Cliff Oak at 403-227-3244 or coak@chinooksedge.ab.ca

The Battle River Project: Building Healthy School Communities – In June of 2009, the River School Division released their Healthy School Communities and Workplaces Policy 21. This policy addresses every aspect of the school environment including mental well-being, physical activity, and healthy eating, recognizing that health and quality learning are interdependent. Since the initiation of its project in 2007, the Battle River School Division has made huge leaps in terms of supporting positive behaviours and healthy school environments. For more information about the Healthy School Communities and Workplaces Policy 21, visit www.brsd.ab.ca/documents/policy/policy_21.htm

Monthly Appreciation Lunches for a Happy Healthy Staff – Following an amalgamation of two schools in Trochu, Alberta, a sub committee of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) planned healthy meals and organized parents to cover noon supervision once a month in an effort to encourage staff wellness and cohesion. Parents were also invited to either donate food or help with preparation to keep costs to a minimum (there was a budget of $50.00 per month for 35 staff members paid for by the PAC). The outcome is a healthier, happier staff that is now requesting healthier hot lunch choices for students.

Saskatchewan

Action Schools! BC Demonstration Project- Saskatchewan Region – Action Schools! BCcontributes to the health of children by integrating physical activity and healthy eating into the school, with the goal of providing children with a foundation for life-long healthy living. In November 2009, the Action Schools! BC Master Trainer offered guidance to teachers and students from six Saskatchewan First Nation schools. In each of these six schools, every classroom from kindergarten to grade seven received Action Bins for both physical activity and healthy eating. These bins contained all the tools for teachers to incorporate various physical and healthy eating activities into the school day.  Initial qualitative results indicate the demonstration project was a success. For more information, visit www.actionschoolsbc.ca/content/home.asp

Manitoba

Trans Fat and School Nutrition Policy Legislation – The Trans Fat and School Nutrition Policy Legislation was proclaimed requiring every school to have a written food and nutrition policy, and that foods prepared, sold or distributed in schools do not exceed prescribed artificial Trans Fat content levels. In order to assist schools in complying with the new Trans Fat and School Nutrition Policy Legislation, resources and supports were made available including the Manitoba School Nutrition Handbook and a provincial School Nutrition Support Team that offers workshops and a toll-free school nutrition information phone line and website. The Support Team is a partnership between Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors, the Dietitians of Canada, the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba and the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. For more information about Trans Fat and School Nutrition Policy Legislation and these resources, visit www.gov.mb.ca/healthyschools/foodinschools/index.html

Healthy Buddies™ Pilot Project – As part of the Healthy Schools Initiative, Manitoba piloted the Healthy Buddies™ Program in 20 schools throughout the province. The Healthy Buddies™ program is a comprehensive school-based health education and health promotion program that focuses on promoting healthy attitudes and behaviours toward physical activity, healthy eating and positive self-image. The goal of the program is to encourage young students to learn about healthy living through positive role modeling by pairing the younger students with older buddies. For more information about the Healthy Buddies™ Program, visit www.healthybuddies.ca/

Manitoba School Fruit and Vegetable Snack Pilot Program – The Manitoba School Fruit and Vegetable Snack Pilot Program is underway. This project will provide healthy fruit and vegetable snacks in schools across Manitoba. Funded by the province, and administered by The Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba, this pilot is being offered to 1,500 students in Manitoba schools with diverse and high need populations, such as low-income and isolated, rural or remote communities. The program will increase the amount and variety of fruit and vegetables that are consumed at school over two twelve week periods.Ten different methods of providing fruit and vegetables in the schools will be tested, leading to a set of recommendations for a sustainable program model for future implementation.

Healthy Schools Provincial Campaigns – Manitoba’s provincial Healthy Schools Initiative funds schools through targeted provincial campaigns each year to undertake projects that support important health and wellness issues. There are two campaigns offered each year. The spring 2010 Campaign focused on healthy eating. For each campaign, Healthy Schools provides $100 plus an additional $0.35 per student available to schools in Manitoba. In order to receive funding, schools must undertake an activity or project that increases awareness of the targeted health issue. For more information visit www.gov.mb.ca/healthyschools/campaigns

Healthy Schools Funding – As part of Manitoba’s school health initiative Healthy Schools, school divisions receive funding to support local Healthy Schools plans and priorities. These funds have created an opportunity for school divisions and local schools to work with Regional Health Authorities, other community organizations and individuals to develop plans and activities consistent with the Healthy Schools Framework. Activities will be selected based on identified needs within the school community. For more information visit www.gov.mb.ca/healthyschools/community

Ontario

School Food and Beverage Policy – Ontario has introduced its School Food and Beverage Policy, which includes nutrition standards for food and beverages sold in all publicly-funded elementary and secondary schools. The policy comes into effect on September 1, 2011. To assist with implementation, the Ministry of Education has provided training to school board teams and public health staff and has prepared training and implementation resources, including the School Food and Beverage Policy Resource Guide, a quick reference guide and on-line training modules. For more information, visit www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/policy.html 

The Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment Project– With funding from the Heart and Stroke KidFit/Spark Community Advocacy Fund, the Timiskaming Health Unit created an advocacy project. The project’s goals include engaging and mobilizing the entire school community (teachers, administrators, parents, students and community partners) to generate excitement, interest and enthusiasm for creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment (HSNE). This includes enhancing school community understanding of what a HSNE is, why it is important to members of the community and how an HSNE can be created within the school community. An additional goal is to highlight the role of policy, culture and environmental change in sustaining a HSNE. For more information, visit www.timiskaminghu.com/content.aspx?navID=670&parentID=669&lang=en

Healthy-Living Programs and Resources for Teachers Ontario – The Registered Dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada provide cross-curricular educational programs and resources for teachers to use in the classroom. Power to Play! (primary division) and Power to Explore! (junior division) are innovative, cross-curricular healthy-living programs available free of charge to all Ontario teachers. To learn about the programs, teachers attend a free workshop facilitated by a Registered Dietitian. At the workshop, teachers receive a program kit containing engaging support material (teacher’s guide, posters, DVD, CD-ROM and more) to use in their classrooms.

In addition to offering curriculum-based programs, Dairy Farmers supports teachers and the school community by providing free nutrition education print materials. Dairy Farmers also supports school healthy-eating initiatives through the Teach Nutrition Award (100 prizes of $100 each are awarded to teachers delivering innovative healthy-eating initiatives in their school or classroom). For more information, visit www.teachnutrition.org

Power4Bones – Ontario Grade Five Bone-Health Program – Power4Bones is a free, award-winning bone-health program that encourages grade five students to take care of their bones. This interactive cross-curricular program includes web challenges, a series of comic-strip episodes, prizes, curriculum rubrics and student-designed public service announcements. Grade five teachers register yearly to receive everything they need to run the program in their classrooms. For more information or to register your class, visit www.power4bones.com

Teachnutrition.org – Teachnutrition.org was developed by Registered Dietitians to support educators teaching healthy eating in their schools. The website provides up-to-date nutrition information and practical, effective nutrition education tools. Teachers can also access cross-curricular programs, download activities and recipes and order resources for students and parents. This site is available in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. For more information, visit www.teachnutrition.org

Quebec

Nutrition Education Programs for Québec Elementary Schools – The team of Registered Dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada develops various nutrition education programs for homeroom and health and physical education teachers working in Quebec elementary schools. In line with the Programme de formation de l’école québécoise, the Healthy Schools approach, and the framework policy entitled Going the Healthy Route at School, these programs are handed out free of charge during workshops on nutrition education. For more of information, visit www.educationnutrition.org

Coeur et berlingot Awards – Each year, the team of Registered Dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada joins forces with the Dietitians of Canada, the Hearth and Stroke Foundation of Québec and the Fédération québécoise du sport étudiant to support local initiatives through the Coeur et berlingot Awards. For more of information, visit www.educationnutrition.org

New Brunswick

School Nutrition Policy 711: Healthier Food and Nutrition in New Brunswick Schools – The Department of Education introduced a comprehensive policy for all New Brunswick schools in October, 2005. This policy establishes the minimum requirements for healthy foods in New Brunswick’s public schools by setting standards for healthy food awareness, food options available in schools and sale of foods in and through the public school system. In 2007, specific nutrient criteria for food categories were developed in partnership between the Department of Education, the Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport (under the Wellness Strategy), Public Health Nutritionists and the Healthy Learners in Schools Program. For more information about the School Nutrition Policy 711, visit www.gnb.ca/0000/policies.asp

School Wellness Grant Program – Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport offers grants to schools to help them develop and implement comprehensive school health approaches to healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco reduction and mental fitness.  The grant program requires schools to use school or district level data to determine a primary wellness focus for the year and develop a plan to address it. For more information, visit http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/Pub/EServices/ListServiceDetails.asp?
ServiceID1=201141&ReportType1=All

Le combo du lundi (The Monday Combo), École Grande Digue – Between January and July of 2010, the Grande Digue elementary school, along with community partners, created a very successful after-school initiative Le combo du lundi (The Monday combo) for over 80 youth in this small town. Students were guided through physical activity and artistic projects, and enjoyed a new food experience every week provided by a professional chef. Students had the opportunity to build knowledge and skills by assisting with food preparation and service.

Je t’ai attrapé à faire un choix santé! (I Caught You Making a Healthy Choice), New Brunswick School District 3 – From May 3-9, 2010, all the schools in the New Brunswick School District 3 participated in a one-week campaign called Je t’ai attrapé à faire un choix santé! (I Caught You Making a Healthy Choice). As an activity to promote healthy living awareness, tickets were issued to students and family members who were spotted demonstrating a healthy behaviour and tickets were then entered in a prize draw. In addition, students decorated T-shirts with messages about wellness (healthy eating, physical activity, mental fitness, tobacco reduction) which were displayed around the school.

Mango Mania – Mango Mania is an on-going program in which children from kindergarten to grade five in three New Brunswick school districts, complete one-week health-related challenges three times per school year. Some of these challenges include eating a healthy snack or lunch, doing 30 minutes of physical activity a day and limiting screen time to one-hour a day. The winning class in the district is chosen by participation rate and receives a visit from a member of the Mango Team as well as a healthy snack. For more information, visit www.rha7.ca/mango_en.html

Mango Grade One Initiative – In the Mango Grade One Initiative, Mango program dietitians meet with grade one students to teach them about the food guide and play a fun relay type activity. Students are given food models and are asked to put them in the appropriate basket. There are five baskets representing the four food groups and the “other” food group. For more information, visit www.rha7.ca/mango_en.html

Prince Edward Island

Celebrate Island Food: Recipe Challenge – In March 2010, the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance extended an invitation to all PEI schools to participate in the Celebrate Island Food Recipe Challenge this past March for nutrition month. The 2010 National Nutrition Month theme was “Celebrate food… from field to table”. Classes or school groups were encouraged to submit an original, tasty and healthy recipe made with mostly local food ingredients. Recipes were narrowed down and judged in April based on a set of criteria (i.e. nutrition, taste, originality). The winning group had a chance to prepare their recipe “Mega Potato Pizza” with PEI Food Ambassador, Chef Michael Smith! The PEI Healthy Eating Alliance plans to run a similar recipe challenge next year as the National Nutrition Month Campaign plans to continue to focus on local foods. For more information on this initiative, visit the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance website at www.healthyeatingpei.ca

Smart Eating Guide – The Smart Eating Guide is a user-friendly poster-size version of the three food lists within PEI's School Nutrition Policy. This resource has been posted in a central location in schools to help raise awareness of the school nutrition policy to school staff, students, vendors, volunteers and parents. The resource was developed and circulated to schools by the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance, with support from the Department of Health & Wellness and the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development. For more information, visit www.healthyeatingpei.ca/resources.php

Nova Scotia

Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools – The Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools is a comprehensive policy that was created through a partnership of stakeholders from multiple sectors. The policy outlines directives and guidelines for foods and beverages served or sold in schools; promotes nutrition education in the curriculum; encourages community partnerships and provides a supportive environment for healthy choices. This policy was released in 2005 and is part of larger provincial healthy-living initiatives for young Nova Scotians including Health Promoting Schools and Healthy Eating Nova Scotia. For more information about the Food and Nutrition Policy, visit www.ednet.ns.ca/healthy_eating/

Provincial Breakfast Program – The Provincial Breakfast Program was established in 2005 to support the Department of Education’s Learning for Life II, Brighter Futures Together initiative, the Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools and the Nova Scotia Health Promoting Schools initiative. To support the delivery of high quality breakfast programs in Nova Scotia public schools, Provincial Breakfast Program Standards were released in 2008.  The primary function of breakfast programs is to provide nourishment to students. However, the programs also encourage community, parental and student engagement and foster a culture of caring and well-being within the school community. For more information, visit www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/healthy_development/children-breakfast-program.asp 

Strive for Five at School! A Guide to Promoting Fruit and Vegetables – Launched in March 2010, the Strive for Five at School!  A Guide to Promoting Fruit and Vegetables, takes healthy eating in the school system a step further, focusing on promoting and preparing in-season local fruits and vegetables. This resource includes a seasonal calendar, large and small quantity recipes, tips for promoting vegetables and fruit in schools and a facilitator’s guide for planning and leading school workshops. The resource was created by the producer supplier committee of the Annapolis Valley Health Promoting Schools Program in partnership with other local and provincial organizations.  Recipes were developed by a professional dietitian and taste-tested by students and staff who prepare food in schools. For more information, visit www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdip/healthy-eating-strive-for-five.asp

Newfoundland and Labrador

Kids Eat Smart Clubs – The Kids Eat Smart Clubs first began in1992. Today, on school days throughout Newfoundland and Labrador over 200 Kids Eat Smart Clubs provide healthy food choices to children and youth. These Clubs are run by volunteers and supported by Kids Eat Smart Foundation Newfoundland and Labrador. The Kids Eat Smart Foundation supports clubs in the five School Districts across the province, providing over 52,000 students with access to nutritional programs. For more information, visit www.kidseatsmart.ca

School Food Guidelines – Developed and Released in 2006 the School Food Guidelines was updated in 2009. The School Food Guidelines provide information on the foods and beverages that are nutritious and suitable for students in school and at school events. As part of the provincial school health promotion initiative Healthy Students- Healthy Schools, School Districts have developed healthy eating/nutrition policies based on the School Food Guidelines. For more information, visit www.livinghealthyschools.com/school_food_guidelines.html

Food and Beverage Review – A Food and Beverage Review process was created in September 2008 to assist schools, caterers and the food and beverage industry to create and select healthy food and beverage options for schools. Nutrition fact tables and ingredient lists are submitted and then reviewed by a team of registered dietitians and educators from across the province. For more information, visit www.livinghealthyschools.com/foodreview.html

Provincial Wellness Grants Program – From 2005 to date, the Provincial Wellness Grants Program has supported 121 community-based projects throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The program provides funds required by community organizations to start or enhance initiatives to support wellness. These grants provide an opportunity for communities to work in partnerships enhancing their capacity to address wellness priorities including healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco control, injury prevention, mental health promotion and environmental health. For more information, visit www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/wellnesshealthyliving/
provincialwellness.html

Eat Great & Participate – The Eat Great & Participate project, initiated in April 2009 and ending in March 2012, aims to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating and create healthier environments for children and youth through increasing the availability of healthy foods and beverages in recreation, sport and community facilities in NL. The Eat Great & Participate project is the result of a joint partnership between the Departments of Health and Community Services (HCS) and Tourism, Culture and Recreation (TCR). The project is coordinated by HCS, funded by TCR and the Public Health Agency of Canada and administered through Dietitians of Canada. For more information, visit www.livinghealthyschools.com/eatgreat.html

Federal Government Updates

Improving Cooking and Food Preparation Skills Reports:  Two reports, a literature review and an environmental scan, on improving cooking and food preparation skills among children and families are expected to be released in the summer of 2010. The literature review synthesizes the current evidence related related to cooking and food preparation skills and the implications of a transition of skills on nutritional health. The environmental scan profiles case studies of successful or promising programs and activities aimed at improving cooking and food preparation skills. This scan profiles one case study per province/territory and two international examples. These reports were prepared for the Healthy Living Issue Group of the Public Health Network through a collaborative effort between the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Group on Nutrition.

CJPH special supplement on school health:  Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Joint Consortium for School Health worked in collaboration to develop a special supplement to the Canadian Journal of Public Health (CJPH) on school health. This supplement profiles the importance of integrating action on healthy eating and physical activity within a broader comprehensive school health framework.  A series of seven articles summarize the state of knowledge on policy options to support healthy eating and physical activity in the school setting; describe roles of stakeholders; and provide an overview of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of school policies. Further research needed to strengthen the evidence base to inform future programs and policies is also highlighted. The supplement is expected to be released in the summer of 2010.

Key Dates & Events

November 1-14, 2010 – Oakville/Mississauga/Burlington DSS Chef for a Day Contest – This season's new 'Chef of the Day' contest invites kids to send in a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner menu to www.tvokids.com/dss for a chance to appear on stage with the TVOKids hosts when the Don't Sit Still show comes to their city. Winners will also receive a TVOKids prize. For more information and to view contest rules and regulations, visit www.tvokids.com/contests/dsschefday

November 21-24, 2010– Ottawa, ON– The Sustainable Mobility Summit 2010 –
The Sustainable Mobility Summit 2010 will be a four-day conference featuring Canadian and international experts speaking on the theme of sustainable mobility as a means of transformative change in urban communities. It will include a special one-day forum on global best practices in sustainable mobility and the related opportunities for Canada’s Capital Region. For more information about the 2010 Sustainable Mobility Summit, visit www.actcanada.com/en/conference2010/

November 26- 28, 2010 – Montreal, QC – Food Secure Canada’s Biannual Assembly, University of Montreal – The Assembly will begin with a keynote panel on Friday, November 26, focusing on the 'big picture' around food, energy and climate change, with a panel of speakers from the 'global South' and Canada. The speakers will unveil the international corporate agenda and discuss the responses from small farmers and social movements against land grabs and the degeneration of agriculture into the production of biomass for whatever industrial purpose is currently convenient. This discussion will be placed in the context of the movement for Food Sovereignty. For more information contact Joanne Bays at joannebays@gmail.com

Research and Resources

Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide– Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide describes the amount and type of food that Canadians, two years and over, need every day. The Food Guide recommends choosing foods from the four food groups – Vegetables and Fruit, Grain Products, Milk and Alternatives and Meat and Alternatives – plus a certain amount of added oils and fats. For more information and to download or order a free copy of Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide, visit Canada’s Food Guide online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide

Eat Well and Be Active Educational Toolkit– Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have collaborated on the development of the Eat Well and Be Active Educational Toolkit.  The Toolkit includes the Eat Well and Be Active Every Day educational poster, three downloadable activity plans and 54 healthy eating and physical activity images and related tips. The Toolkit aims to facilitate the teaching of integrated healthy eating and physical activity messages by intermediaries, such as dietitians and other healthcare professionals, teachers, community leaders (YMCA/YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouts Canada, etc.) and physical activity specialists. The Eat Well and Be Active Educational Toolkit is scheduled for release in fall 2010.

The Brand Name Food List & Bake Better Bites – The Brand Name Food List and Bake Better Bites were developed as resources within the School Guidelines Support Initiative led by the Dietitians of Canada. The Brand Name Food List was created to inform vendors, schools and parents what foods are appropriate to be served in school as well as to offer useful resources. The Bake Better Bites is a resource that offers recipes and tips for healthier baked goods. For more information about the Brand Name Food List, visit www.brandnamefoodlist.ca or to view a Bake Better Bites resource, visit www.bchealthyliving.ca/sites/all/files/BakeBetterBites.pdf

Healthy Foods in Recreational Facilities: It just makes sense Toolkit – Launched in September 2009, the Healthy Foods in Recreational Facilities: It just makes sense is a toolkit created in partnership with the Healthy Eating / Physical Activity Coalition (www.hepac.ca) . This toolkit presents financial and health benefits of adopting healthy foods within a recreational facility. By creating environments where children are provided with healthy foods, this initiative builds support for healthy eating efforts at schools. For more information and to view the toolkit, visit www.gnb.ca/0131/wellness_sense-e.asp

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