The Healthy Lunch Challenge pays off for students

 

Four for Lunch winners announced

 

NEWMARKET – York Region Health Services is pleased to announce the winning classes in the

4 for Lunch: Healthy Lunch Challenge. Each class wins a healthy lunch party, courtesy of Vince’s Country Market (Newmarket).

 

• 199 Grade 3 classes from across York Region registered in this nutritional education project which aims to encourage children and parents to plan and pack nutritious lunches
• The goal of this initiative is to ensure that foods from the four recommended food groups outlined by Canada’s Food Guide - Grain Products, Vegetables and Fruits, Milk and Alternatives and Meat and Alternatives are included in daily lunches
• During the week of October 23-27, 2006, and on several additional occasions throughout the year, each participating class recorded the total number of food products from Canada’s Food Guide that were in student’s lunches
• This annual challenge is offered by York Region Health Services, to support teachers in educating about nutrition in the classroom
• All participating students will receive a certificate. One class was drawn from each of four areas in York Region for the grand prize of a healthy lunch party, to be delivered on the following dates:

North winner: Morning Glory Public School

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 12 p.m.

Teacher:  Allison Bonner

 

South-west winner:  Devine Mercy Catholic Elementary School

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 12 p.m.

Teacher:  Francesco De Bartolo

 

Central winner:  Maple Creek Public School

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 12:50 p.m.

Teacher:  Erik Roth

 

South-east winner:  Pleasantville Public School

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 12:35 p.m.

Teacher: Janice Nestor

 

The 4 for Lunch:  A Healthy Lunch Challenge program is annually offered to all Grade 3 students within the York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board.   York Region Health Services, in partnership with the local heart health program, heartyparty.com (www.heartyparty.com) provide nutritional resources for parents to help them make and pack healthy lunches during this challenge and through out the year.

 

It is well documented that children learn and behave better when they are well-nourished. Children may not be as well nourished as possible because of limited food knowledge of what foods contribute to healthy meals. Today, many children are bringing lunches to school that consist of high sugar, high fat, and low nutrient foods.

To learn more about developing healthy eating strategies, Canada’s Food Guide or other health-related issues, contact York Region Health Services Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 (toll free) or visit www.york.ca

 

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