Islanders will have many opportunities to learn about healthy eating this week which has been proclaimed Healthy Eating Week in Prince Edward Island by Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan.
Healthy Eating Alliance members are taking their new Healthy Eating Wheel to school health fairs and special events such as the annual provincial sports fair which will draw over 2,000 students to the CARI Complex on Tuesday and Wednesday. The healthy eating wheel is a new game where participants get to spin a wheel and answer trivia questions in six categories of healthy eating. “Students are telling us they like this type of activity better than a formal presentation because it is an interactive and fun way to learn,” said Dr. Jennifer Taylor, president of the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance.
The Alliance will also unveil a new website this week. “Islanders are actively searching for good information to improve their eating habits,” said Dr. Taylor. “We have put a lot of time and energy into this made-for-PEI site which contains something for everyone including students, teachers and parents.”Throughout the month of October, Grades 4, 5 and 6 students and teachers who explore the site can participate in WebQuest activities and win grocery store gift cards and healthy snacks for their schools.
The PEI Healthy Eating Alliance is a group of 32 member organizations who are working to improve healthy eating in PEI, particularly among school-aged children.
Minister Greenan acknowledged the excellent work being done by the Alliance to improve nutrition policies and food programs in Island schools. “Schools have a very important role to play in this area. When we create healthy eating environments in our schools, we are giving students a much better chance to succeed academically and to develop healthy attitudes and behaviours that often continue into adulthood,” said the minister.
During the past three years, the provincial government has worked closely with the Alliance to implement school nutrition policies in all elementary and consolidated schools. The Alliance is now working with school boards on policies to guide foods served in school cafeterias and vending machines in intermediate and high schools.
The policies are expected to be fully implemented in all Grades 1 to 12 schools by the fall of 2009. They will require all foods sold or served in all schools to meet established criteria for sugar, fat, sodium and other content.
Work has also begun on policies for early childhood centres. The Healthy Eating Alliance and the Active Living Alliance are working with the Early Childhood Development Association, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Holland College and early childhood educators to develop healthy eating and active living policies for preschool and kindergarten children. A draft policy will be submitted for consideration this fall.
The Government of Prince Edward Island provided new funding of $100,000 this year to expand and enhance school breakfast and snack programs. The funding is being used in many ways, such as to expand menu choices, increase the number of days that programs are offered, fund program coordinators and purchase equipment and supplies.
In Prince Edward Island, 52 school breakfast and snack programs serve nutritious food to 5,800 students at no charge.