Programs and Services Offered - Elementary Schools

The York Region Community and Health Services, Nutrition Services, works in partnership with the Elementary School Team, to promote the Healthy Schools Program. Nutrition Services uses a comprehensive or 'whole school approach' to create a healthy school nutrition environment with the goal of improving eating behaviours in students, as well as families.

Information about the new Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150) 

Involve your school community in choosing healthier food and beverage options! 
Use the following resources to help communicate to parents and the broader school community about P/PM 150:

• Staff Update Letter
• Letter to Parents 
• School Newsletter Inserts
• Elementary Nutrition Posters

Nutrition Tools for Schools©

York Region Community and Health Services uses the Nutrition Tools for Schools© program. This program gives you a toolkit and support from public health to help your school achieve the requirements outlined in the Ontario Ministry of Education's School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150) and to create a healthy school nutrition environment.

Promoting Healthy Eating
Using a 'whole school' or comprehensive approach, this program engages staff, students and parents in promoting consistent messages about healthy eating:

• In the School
• In the Classroom
• In Homes and the Community

It addresses all school and community areas where food and/or beverages are offered or sold. This approach aligns with the School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150) and supports a healthy eating environment.

Getting the Entire School Involved
To make sure the entire school gets involved and that any changes are long lasting, Nutrition Tools for Schools© requires schools to work through four steps:

1. Form a School Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC) with an established leader
2. Complete a School Nutrition Checklist to identify priorities
3. Develop and implement a School Nutrition Action Plan
4. Evaluate and celebrate  

Signing Up for the Program
Public health staff will work with your school and give you a copy of Nutrition Tools for Schools©. For more information about the toolkit and to become involved, call 1-800-735-6625 ext. 4332 or ext. 4335.

Other School Specific Programs

4 for Lunch: A Healthy Lunch Challenge: This program is for grade 2 students and their families, and is offered once a year in the fall. The goal is to encourage families to pack nutritious lunches. Nutrition materials, including curriculum-matched activities are provided. The challenge is for students and their parents to plan and make healthy lunches for one week.

You're the Chef: This is a vegetable and fruit promotion program that uses basic cooking lessons to help grade 6, 7, and 8 students establish better eating habits.

Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment: This document written by the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health, provides recommendations to support a healthy school nutrition environment.