AP 113

Nutritional Foods in Schools

Background 

The Abbotsford School District recognizes the important role nutrition plays in student development and recognizes the responsibility of the school to encourage healthy lifestyles in cooperation with the home and community. The purpose of this administrative procedure is to establish guidelines for food sales and distribution in schools. 

Procedures 

1. Administrators need to be aware of the classification of the three food groups (AP113-1), and promote those foods in the green category.

  • Green - "Choose most"
  • Amber - "Choose Sometimes"​
  • Red - “Choose Least”

2. Schools will be provided with guidelines containing the classifications with examples of commonly sold or consumed foods and beverages and other healthy alternatives. Schools can refer to the guidelines (AP 113-2) to assist them with the implementation of this administrative procedure.

3. Foods at School: It is the principal’s responsibility to ensure that a plan is in place to eliminate all foods in the red category during school operational hours.

  • 3.1 Parents should be encouraged to provide a recess snack and lunch for their children, following Canada’s Food Guide to Eating Well.
  • 3.2 When foods are provided as a reward or for a celebration, foods from the “Choose Sometimes” or the “Choose Most” categories of the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools issued by the Ministries of Education and Health, should generally be served to students, at the discretion of the principal. 
  • 3.3 School fund-raising efforts should avoid the sale of foods listed in the “Not Recommended” or “Choose Least” categories of the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools. 
  • 3.4 Parent Advisory Committees, when holding events that offer food at schools, are encouraged to follow the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools 
  • 3.5 Schools will make every effort to comply with the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools for all foods and beverages available to students through: 
    • cafeterias
    • instructional programs such as the Career Preparation Programs in FoodServices. Curriculum requirements may take precedence over the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools.
    • beverage and snack vending machines
    • school stores
    • other events or locations where food is served

4. School Meal Programs

  • 4.1 Lunch (snacks) Meal Programs will follow the standards established by the Ministry of Education and Child Care, Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. 
  • 4.2 Breakfast Programs provided by various community organizations will follow the standards established by the Ministry of Education and Child Care, Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. 

Reference

Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide
Guidelines for Food and Beverage
Sales in BC Schools 
Action Schools
BC Fraser Health
Healthy Abbotsford
 

Last Revised: June 2018
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