Healthy Eating & the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program
Eating a variety of nutritious foods and having good eating habits can help students be more alert and ready to learn. Educators can positively influence students’ eating habits. This involves teaching them that healthy, nutritious food provides energy to learn, grow and be active. They can also influence their students by role-modelling healthy eating habits.
Resources to support implementation can be found in the sections below.
The Food Matters Action Kit (Grades K-12) is designed for children and youth to learn about preventing and reducing food waste, available in two groups — one for children aged 5-13, and one for youth aged 14-25.
Bright Bites (Grades K-8) is a comprehensive program which encourages a healthy nutrition environment within a school, covering topics such as promoting water as the drink of choice, learning about what influences our food choices, ideas for healthy fundraisers, school celebrations and special events, gardening at school, tips for serving healthy breakfast, snacks, and lunches, and much more.
Foodland Ontario's Kids Corner (Grades K-6) highlights food facts, local food, and seasonal food, with quizzes and activities centered around Ontario food products.
The Canada’s Food Guide Plate (Grades K-12) encourages making half of our plate vegetables and fruit, a quarter of our plate protein foods, and the final quarter whole grains.
Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program
Getting families to eat more vegetables and fruit is one way to have them live better and healthier lives. The Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program introduces elementary school children to vegetables and fruit two days a week from January to June. The Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association provides a variety of produce to complement healthy eating lesson plans and resources to 10,000 students across our area.
School Lunch your Kids will Munch
Studies show that well-nourished children are able to concentrate longer and perform better at school. Children are ready to learn and are more alert when they eat a variety of choices as recommended by Canada’s food guide. Use this guide to make fun, nutritious lunches.