The Prince Edward Island Healthy Eating Alliance has launched a pilot project aimed at providing more food choices for elementary school students. The project offers a selection of fruits and vegetables once a week at three elementary schools across the province.
The schools participating in the project are West Kent in Charlottetown, Ecole-sur-mer in Summerside and the Alberton elementary school. Volunteers will help with the preparation and serving of fruits and vegetables.
"The purpose of this Healthy Eating pilot project is to increase the availability of fruits and vegetables to school-aged children," said Holly Smith, co-chair of the Healthy Eating Alliance and programs director of the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. "The foods that we eat are an important part of our health and well-being. For this reason, it is important that children have access to healthy food choices."
The project will be evaluated by dietetic interns in the Family and Nutritional Sciences Department of the University of Prince Edward Island. The evaluation will determine the food preferences of students and their willingness to try fruits and vegetables before and after the project takes place. It is being conducted under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Taylor, who is also co-chair of the Healthy Eating Alliance. The results of the evaluation will help plans to broaden the program during the next school year.
"Healthy eating is one of the key components of the Prince Edward Island Strategy for Healthy Living," said Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem. "It is important that we continue to develop ways to encourage healthy eating habits at a young age. We are fortunate to work in partnership with other government departments, with the Healthy Eating Alliance and with other organizations who share this goal."
The Alliance was established in the fall of 2001. It is a partnership of some 40 non-profit community organizations, researchers and individuals and several departments of government. The goal of the Alliance is to improve the eating habits of Prince Edward Island children and youth.