School food environments

This page offers tips and resources on various topics for creating a supportive school food environment.

The food environment includes foods that are offered at school, as well students’ eating experiences. Students do best when they have positive role models, and when foods offered both in and outside classrooms are in line with healthy eating messages.

Have questions? Contact a Population Health dietitian at PopHthNutrition@NorthernHealth.ca.

Tips and resources for schools and educators

Feeding and eating roles

Respect all foods students bring from home. Families may face barriers to accessing healthy foods, and the term “healthy” holds different meanings. To support families with meal and snack ideas, visit the nutrition for children and youth page.
Trust that children naturally know how much food their bodies need. Follow the division of responsibility in feeding: Students decide how much, in what order, and whether to eat from the foods adults have provided.
Do not pressure students to eat certain amounts or types of foods. Pressure can backfire, and makes it harder for children to learn to accept new foods.

Resources

Nurturing healthy eaters in the classroom (PDF) - Vancouver Coastal Health
Positive or negative, it’s still pressure - Ellyn Satter Institute
Talking to kids about food (PDF) - Northern Health
Vegetables: A kid-friendly approach (PDF) - Northern Health

Food allergy

Aim to create “allergy-safe” or “allergy-aware” environments using strategies that work best for your school. It is unrealistic to expect an “allergy-free” environment.
Ensure school policies include allergen avoidance strategies, communication plans, education and staff training, and emergency protocols.

Resources

Allergy awareness lesson plans (K-8) - Food Allergy Canada
Anaphylaxis in school (30 min online course) - Food Allergy Canada
Peanut and nut aware lunches and snacks (PDF) - Northern Health
Resource guide for allergy aware schools (PDF) - Northern Health
What can you do to support safe and inclusive school environments for children with food allergies? - Northern Health Stories

Food and beverage sales

Refer to the Province of BC’s guidelines for food and beverage sales in BC schools (PDF), and accompanying resources below. These resources support schools with role modeling healthy eating in the classroom, school food programs, vending machines, and special events.

Resources

Selling food and beverages at school sporting events (PDF) - HealthLink BC
Stock vending machines and stores with healthy food and beverages (PDF) - HealthLink BC
Tips and recipes for quantity cooking: Nourishing minds and bodies (PDF) - Dietitians of Canada

Fundraisers

Consider non-food fundraiser options or food fundraisers that align with healthy eating messages.
Sign up for the “Fresh to You Fundraiser": students sell bundles of seasonal and local fruit and vegetables, and make a guaranteed 40 per cent profit.

Resources

Bake better bites: Recipes and tips for healthier baked goods (PDF) - Dietitians of Canada
Fresh to you fundraiser (annual initiative) - BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC)
Healthy fundraising for schools: A practical guide for parents and educators (PDF) - Dedicated Action for School Health (DASH BC)
Healthy school fundraisers: A win-win for schools and families! - Northern Health Stories

Rewards and celebrations

Time and space to eat

Ensure students have enough time to eat. Focus on providing regular, sit-down meal and snack opportunities rather than what or how much a student eats.
Create safe and pleasant areas for students to gather and eat.
Consider a "play first lunch.” Some schools find this leads to calmer lunchtimes.

Resources

Play first lunch toolkit (PDF) - Action Schools! BC

Tips and resources for schools and educators

More information