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York Region Food for Learning supports breakfast and snack programs at both elementary and secondary levels. Snack programs include two food groups, one of which should be a fruit or vegetable as indicated by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services Nutrition Guidelines. A breakfast program provides healthy foods from a minimum of three food groups. A portion of the funding required is provided by Food for Learning and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Corporate sponsorship would greatly assist our nourishment programs and we encourage, support and welcome these contributions in our school communities. This relationship is a viable component in delivering “healthy” foods in our schools.
St Bernadette Elementary School snack program has been in operation for eight years! Impressive! How the snack program works is that snack trays are provided daily, delivering healthy food to the class by 10:15 am, before recess. The driving force behind this program is to ensure students have a healthy snack option and are well nourished so that they can focus in class. Thirteen parent volunteers offer their services one day a week, arriving at the school and preparing the snack tray for the day. There are three additional parent volunteers who fill in when support is required and help out when and where they can. One parent volunteer shops for the food once a week while some of the other volunteers help out by buying specific items.
The successes are great! Students never go hungry during the school day. They routinely eat the snack food from the nourishment program over less healthy choices. When the program began, Food for Learning trained the volunteers on food preparation standards, practices and storage expectations. Now the experienced volunteers team up with the new volunteers and teach them the process that they follow. Students who eat healthy snacks offered through this program have shown an increase in concentration levels and a reduction in the number of behavioral interruptions and outbursts. As Mr. Laliberte, Principal of St. Bernadette Elementary School shares, “The students do not worry about having enough to eat during the day which was a noted concern before the program began. Rather, they know they can always access the snacks at any point during the day. For parents who are having a difficult time in this economy, it gives them the peace of mind to know that their children are getting a healthy snack at school.”
Food for learning is a program that requires a commitment from all parties involved – school, parents and community partners. We know eating nutritious foods does influence academic success and reduces anxiety and depression in adolescents. The question to be asked is “How do we prioritize such a valuable program and get all parties involved?” St Bernadette’s Catholic Elementary School chooses to make a difference in the lives of their students and have worked hard to achieve a framework that works with all the key members of their community. We acknowledge your hard work, sustainability of program and encourage others to follow. This program only works with many hands, creative ideas, financial support and a commitment to provide what is good for kids. BRAVO!
Do you have questions? Call Tracy Woloshyn, Chair of York Region Food for Learning at 905-895-4512 or 1-800-735-6625 ext 4352. Also check out the website for healthy food choices