Nutrition Standards

Sheridan Public School
1555 Lancaster Drive ♦ Oakville ♦ Ontario ♦ L6H 3H4 ♦ 905 845-3925 ♦ HDSB

Say Hello to Healthier Eating During the School Day

About one-third of a student's daily food intake occurs at school. Whether food is purchased in cafeterias or supplemented with snacks from school canteens, tuck shops, vending machines etc., the choices often include high-fat, high-sugar, high-sodium, and low nutrient foods such as fries, candy bars and sugary drinks.

New provincial food and beverage standards are on the way for all food sold in Ontario schools with full implementation by September 2011. The Ministry of Education's School Food and Beverage Policy, PPM 150 (http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/150.html) is based on the healthy eating guidelines outlined in Canada's Food Guide.

The Nutrition Standards group foods and beverages for sale in schools into three categories: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/Appendix150.pdf

The Sell Most category:		The Sell Most category must make up at least 80% of the choices offered. These foods have lower levels of fat, sugar and/or sodium, e.g. fresh, frozen, canned or dried fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, whole wheat or white (enriched) pasta.

The Sell Less category:		The Sell Less category must make up no more than 20% of choices offered. These foods have slightly higher amounts of fat, sugar and/or sodium than the "sell most" category e.g. deli meats, hotdogs etc.

The Not Permitted for Sale category:		The Not Permitted for Sale category are generally those that contain few or no essential nutrients and high amounts of fat, sugar and/or sodium, e.g. deep-fried foods, pasta sauce that is higher in fat or sodium, energy bars, candy, popcorn, baked goods, any beverage with caffeine.

The standards do not apply to food and beverages that are:

• brought from home or purchased off school premises and are not for resale in schools
• available for purchase during field trips off school premises
• offered in schools to students at not cost
• sold in schools for non-school purposes
• sold for fundraising activities that occur off school premises
• sold in staff rooms

As you think about healthy eating for the school day, many great ideas can be found at http://webaps.halton.ca/health/resources/resource.cfm?ID=486 and click on View this Resource.

Every month during the 2010-11 school year we will feature more information about the upcoming Nutrition Standards and our board and school plans to fully implement by September 2011.