Health Resources for Schools
Food and Nutrition in Schools
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For additional information or translated documents
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Schools have an important responsibility to provide students with supportive eating environments, teach nutrition in a positive way, and create hands-on opportunities to learn about and experience food. Learn more about Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Elementary Schools and Secondary Schools.
Resources for
Food and Nutrition
Contact a Public Health Dietitian or Public Health Nurse by emailing [email protected] for help and advice on food and nutrition in schools.
- Review BrightBites.ca - Website designed for Ontario educators to help create a positive and inclusive school food environment. Learn more with this short video - Bright Bites website navigation
- Review the Guiding Principles and find lesson plans and other activities aligned with the Ontario curriculum
- Teach about Canada’s Food Guide using the tips and lesson ideas in Canada’s Food Guide: Toolkit for Educators
- Use the Hamilton Edible Education Guide, 2024 to find local food literacy programming, field trips, and resources.
- Teach Food Literacy and the Ontario science curriculum using lesson plans and hands-on learning resources on the Food is Science website.
- Encourage staff to reflect on how their own attitudes and beliefs around food, eating and body image, influence their interactions with students. Evaluate your biases - Canada's Food Guide
- Ensure the school environment is inclusive and safe for all bodies. Mental Health and Weight Bias in schools
- Create a Teaching Canada's food guide: Create a supportive environment - Canada.ca in your school and classrooms. Find more ideas at BrightBites.ca/School Food Climate.
- Provide students with hands-on experiences involving food – check out these ideas from Growing Chefs Ontario and Six by Sixteen websites.
- Support school-wide campaigns and events like the Great Big Crunch
- Review BrightBites Eating at School to learn how to create a supportive and positive student eating environment.
- Share this printable handout with parents/caregivers - School Lunch Your Kids Will Munch
- Ensure that students and staff have easy access to clean, fresh water to drink during the school day, and at all school events and celebrations. Learn about the City of Hamilton Reusable Water Bottle Program and other educational resources.
- Promote or start a student nutrition program that provides meals and/or snacks to students. Learn more from the Hamilton Tastebuds: Student Nutrition Collaborative.
- Ensure food offered or sold to students and staff meets existing Food and Beverage Policies and Guidelines. For tips and ideas that also celebrate diversity and promote food literacy go to BrightBites.ca/What’s on the Menu.
- For information on programs and services that provide food and other support for children and families experiencing food insecurity refer to the Hamilton Food Access Guide.
Ressources Du Service De Santé Publique En Français
Certains renseignements et certaines ressources du Service de santé publique présentés sur cette page Web pourraient être disponibles en français. Communiquez avec l’infirmière affectée à votre école ou envoyez au courriel à [email protected] pour en savoir plus long sur les ressources et les services offerts en français.
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