A Toolkit for Ontario Public Health Units to Support Elementary Schools in Creating a Healthy Nutrition Environment SAMPLE

A Toolkit for Ontario Public Health Units to Support Elementary Schools in Creating a Healthy Nutrition Environment SAMPLE

Leader s Handbook

Authors Nutrition Tools for Schools was prepared by the Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment (CHSNE) Health Unit Collaboration Written by the following registered dietitians: Lucy Valleau, York Region Health Services Carolyn Froats-Emond, Renfrew County and District Health Unit North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (former) Suzanne Neumann, Hamilton Public Health Services Lesley Andrade and Tracey Weatherbe, Sudbury & District Health Unit Mary Ellen Deane, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Kerry Schubert-Mackey, Timiskaming Health Unit Lindsay Jones, Algoma Public Health Mary Ellen Prange, Hamilton Public Health Services (former) This document is also available in French Copyright for this document belongs to the CHSNE Health Unit Collaboration This document may not be reproduced, in part, or in whole, without written permission For further information, please contact: Lucy Valleau York Region Health Services 905-895-4512 ext 4332 Lucyvalleau@yorkca Acknowledgements Previous contributors: Jennifer Bowen and Angela Hollett, Thunder Bay District Health Unit Vicki Daigle, Algoma Public Health Reviewed by: Special thanks go out to Nancy Dubois and Larry Hershfield from The Health Communication Unit at the Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto and to the various schools and school community members from across the province who participated in the pilot project that helped to bring this project to fruition Edited by: Brenda Skinner Communications Services 705-723-1689 skinnerspond@sympaticoca Design and layout by: The Graffic Link Design Studio, Brantford, Ontario 519-758-0901 Support for editing, graphic design and translation: Bureau de traduction régional/regional Translation Office - Sudbury Food for Learning North Bay (Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic District School Board) The Northern Healthy Eating Project wwwrsfmnoca

Table of Contents Welcome to Nutrition Tools for Schools 3 Introducing Nutrition Tools for Schools 4 Step One: Form the School Nutrition Action Committee 9 Tools for Leaders 17 Step Two: Complete the School Nutrition Checklist 39 Tools for Leaders 45 Step Three: Develop and Carry Out the School Nutrition Action Plan 76 Tools for Leaders 84 Step Four: Evaluate and Celebrate 88 Tools for Leaders 95

Welcome to Nutrition Tools for Schools! Congratulations on joining the Nutrition Tools for Schools initiative! Whether you re a teacher, parent, school administrator or volunteer, Nutrition Tools for Schools will help you to follow a fourstep process to create a healthy nutrition environment in your school Your local public health unit/department has a mandate to work with schools and will enthusiastically support you throughout the process of creating a healthier school Developed by a team of registered dietitians working in Ontario public health units/departments, Nutrition Tools for Schools builds on the Ontario government s commitment to make schools healthier places for our children With growing concern about serious health problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and the increasing rate of childhood obesity, schools have an important role to play in promoting healthy eating among children What is a Healthy School Nutrition Environment? A healthy nutrition environment exists when a school promotes healthy eating through words and actions This means that the school delivers and models consistent and accurate messages about food, nutrition and healthy eating Students are taught consistent, reliable healthy eating lessons and are given plenty of opportunities to put them into practice According to Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment 1, there are nine essential elements of a Healthy School Nutrition Environment These include: 9 Food and nutrition policies that support healthy eating Nutrition education for all students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 Nutrition education for teaching staff provided by registered dietitians Healthy, reasonably priced and culturally appropriate food choices in schools (eg, in tuck shops, vending machines and for special food days) Role modelling of healthy eating Student, parent and community education about healthy eating A daily, universal Student Nutrition Program (eg, breakfast or snack program) Safe food handling practices and an allergy-safe environment Nutrition breaks scheduled at appropriate times 1 Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health 2004 Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment School Nutrition Workgroup Steering Committee

Introducing Nutrition Tools for Schools A Toolkit for Ontario Public Health Units to Support Elementary Schools in Creating a Healthy Nutrition Environment Nutrition Tools for Schools builds on the nine essential elements of a Healthy School Nutrition Environment presented in Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment 1 It outlines a step-by-step process to guide schools and provides practical tools to help make healthy eating environments a reality This toolkit is based on the whole school or comprehensive approach to improving the school nutrition environment A whole school approach engages the entire school community in promoting consistent messages about healthy eating throughout the school day It addresses all areas in the school and surrounding community where foods and/or beverages may be offered or sold: In the Classroom, In the School and In Homes and In the Community Nutrition Tools for Schools Components The toolkit consists of five main components: Nutrition Tools for Schools Leader s Handbook Nutrition Tools for Schools provides a wide range of guidance, resources and interactive tools to inspire and support you in taking a whole school approach to healthy eating One size doesn t fit all Nutrition Tools for Schools School Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC) Handbook Nutrition Tools for Schools Action Guides Nutrition Tools for Schools Food Standards Reference Guide Feedback from the Nutrition Tools for Schools pilot in 2006 showed that schools have different needs and capacities; therefore, we have made Nutrition Tools for Schools a flexible resource It allows your school to move through the four steps at your own pace and to choose the materials and resources that focus on your school s priorities Nutrition Tools for Schools CD 1 Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health School Nutrition Workgroup 2004 Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment School Nutrition Workgroup Steering Committee

1 Nutrition Tools for Schools Leader s Handbook The Leader s Handbook is the backbone of the toolkit, guiding your school through four steps: Step One: Form the School Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC) Step Two: Complete the School Nutrition Checklist Step Three: Develop and Carry Out the School Nutrition Action Plan (SNAP) Step Four: Evaluate and Celebrate The Leader s Handbook is meant for the school leader The leader is someone who has agreed to take the lead for the Nutrition Tools for Schools initiative in his or her school The leader is not responsible for doing all the work Instead, he or she is committed to children s health and inspires others to support the school in making changes For each step of the process, the Leader s Handbook provides easy-touse tools (eg, School Nutrition Checklist) that will help the school create a healthy nutrition environment It also highlights tips from other schools that have already gone through the four-step process Step Four: Evaluate and Celebrate Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment Step One: Form the School Nutrition Action Committee Step Three: Develop and Carry Out the School Nutrition Action Plan Step Two: Complete the School Nutrition Checklist 2 Nutrition Tools for Schools School Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC) Handbook The School Nutrition Action Committee (SNAC) Handbook provides a condensed version of the Leader s Handbook It is a quick reference for the SNAC members There is a copy of the SNAC Handbook on Nutrition Tools for Schools CD Please print and share with each SNAC committee member For each step of the process, this handbook outlines key roles for committee members that will help create a Healthy School Nutrition Environment

3 Nutrition Tools for Schools Action Guides Wondering how to tackle a specific healthy eating concern in your school? Look to the element-specific Action Guides The Action Guides help you to develop your School Nutrition Action Plan They are organized according to the whole school approach and the nine essential elements of a Healthy School Nutrition Environment Each of the 17 Action Guides is colour coded and easy to follow or adapt Each Action Guide includes: Background information on your chosen priority (eg, healthy fundraising) A step-by-step plan A variety of tools (eg, surveys and communication tools) to help the SNAC get input and gain support from school community members Success stories from other schools Tips for addressing concerns commonly raised by school community members When you are ready to work on a specific healthy eating concern, please contact your health unit/department for copies of the element-specific Action Guides 4 Nutrition Tools for Schools Food Standards Reference Guide This guide contains food standards to help guide school community members, including principals, teachers, parent volunteers, students, food service workers and companies, in selecting, purchasing and/or preparing the healthiest foods and beverage choices for students in Ontario elementary schools Criteria for classifying foods and beverages with Maximum, Moderate and Minimum Nutritional Value were developed by public health nutritionists and dietitians based on the Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment 1 document The public health dietitian is available to support schools in using the Food Standards Reference Guide 5 Nutrition Tools for Schools CD The CD found in the front of the binder includes a copy of the SNAC Handbook, the Food Standards Reference Guide and all of the tools and resources needed in each step of the Leader s Handbook Tools are saved in Word format so that you can adapt them to meet your school s needs As you move through the four steps, print and share the tools with each SNAC member 1 Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health 2004 Call to Action: Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment School Nutrition Workgroup Steering Committee

Nutrition Tools for Schools Action Guides The following chart shows where each essential element is addressed within the whole school approach and the corresponding Action Guides Whole School Approach Essential Element Action Guide Action Guide Symbol In the School Healthy, reasonably priced and culturally appropriate food choices available in schools Healthy Fundraising School Milk Programs Healthy Vending Machines Healthy Tuck Shops Healthy Special Food Days Student Rewards Healthy Classroom Celebrations Healthy Refreshments at School Meetings and Events Positive role modelling Positive Role Modelling Student Nutrition Programs (eg, breakfast, snack and lunch) Student Nutrition Programs Safe food practices and allergy-safe environment Safe and Pleasant Eating Areas Handwashing at School Appropriate scheduling of nutrition breaks Appropriate Scheduling of Nutrition Breaks School food and nutrition policy School Food and Nutrition Policy In the Classroom Nutrition education for staff Classroom Nutrition education for students In Homes and In the Community Student, parent and community education about healthy eating Blast Off with Breakfast! Healthy School Lunches and Snacks

Ready Set GO! To get started on creating a healthy nutrition environment in your school, move to Step One and begin to form the School Nutrition Action Committee