Background Resources

• School Nutrition Toolkit: How to Create a Supportive Food Environment at School (WECHU)
  • A practical guide to help educators and school administrators create a supportive food environment at school and in classrooms with knowledge, helpful tips, and resources. 
• What Influences What You Eat? (French) (video) – Healthy Schools BC 
  • Brief description of best practices for using a food exploration approach to nutrition education that has been linked with long-term, positive eating attitudes and behaviors.
• Food and Culture in Your Classroom – Teach Nutrition
  • Reflect on your own experiences and approach conversations about culture in a way that fosters connections in your classroom. 
• Canada’s Food Guide: Marketing Can Influence Your Food Choices (French) – Government of Canada
  • Information related to food marketing. Raises awareness of its impact on food choices and offers tips on making informed choices.

Lessons and Activities

• BrightBites – Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Grades K-12
  • A website for the school community that provides evidence-based information and Curriculum resources that supports positive relationship with food and body image in school communities.
• Teach Food First: An Educator’s Toolkit – Healthy Schools BC Grades K-8
  • A toolkit focused on a food exploration approach to nutrition education that has been linked to long-term, positive eating attitudes, and behaviours. Includes lesson plans, teaching tips and resources. Also contains First Nations Foods lesson plans.
• Growing Chefs Teacher Resources – Growing Chefs Ontario Grades 1-8
  • Curriculum-based lesson plans involving food, activities, resources and videos to support food literacy.
• Teaching and Talking About Food and Nutrition Grades K-8
  • Food and nutrition exploration approaches for educators.

• Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Elementary Schools  (French) - Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Grades K-8
  • Information and tips on creating a positive eating and learning environment. 
• Nurturing Healthy Eaters in Secondary Schools – (French) – Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Grades 9-12
  • Information and tips on creating a positive eating and learning environment. 
• It’s an Honour: Rewards and Incentives– BrightBites Grades K-12
  • Information and suggestions on using non-food rewards for students in elementary and secondary schools.
• Fresh From the Farm (French) - Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association
  • Fundraise with fresh locally grown produce to support the health and wellbeing of your school community.
• Healthy Schools Certification (French) – OPHEA
  • Provides tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact the Comprehensive Health Promotion team 519-258-2146, extension 1555 or send an email to chp@wechu.org to find out more about supporting your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification. 

• You’re the Chef – WECHU Grades 4-12
  • A fun and interactive program that teaches basic cooking skills. Contact chp@wechu.org for information.
• School Food Gardens Start-up Guide – Region of Waterloo Public Health
  • A guide to creating a school garden to support health and learning.
• Tower Garden – Juice Plus+
  • A vertical growing system that allows vegetables, herbs, and flowers in small spaces either indoors or outdoors. Included are lesson plans and learning materials.

School Campaigns and Social Media

• Great Big Crunch - Coalition for Healthy School Food Grades K-12
  • Join Great Big Crunch events each year to celebrate student nutrition. Annual activity guide available.
• BrightBites (French) – Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Grades K-12
  • The school community can work together to complete school nutrition challenges that promote a positive school food environment. Students can design campaigns to promote water consumption, plan healthier fundraisers, change school food policies and more.
• Youth action on food insecurity: A toolkit for secondary school students Grades 9-12
  • This toolkit from Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) offers user-friendly resources and ideas that students can use to develop awareness-raising campaigns about food insecurity.

• Growing a School Garden or Green Thumb (French)
  • Helpful planning tips and ideas for starting a school garden outdoors, or indoors.
• School Food Climate  (French)– BrightBites
  • Adults working in schools can make changes to create supportive school food environments that will make it easier for students to develop a positive relationship with food and their bodies.
• Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy (PPM 150)– Ministry of Education, Ontario
  • School boards must ensure that all food and beverages sold on school premises meet certain nutrition standards. The nutrition standards apply to all food and beverages sold on school property (e.g., cafeterias, vending machines, tuck shops), and through all programs and events such as catered lunch programs, bake sales, and sporting events.

Resources in the community

• Ontario Student Nutrition Program
  • The Student Nutrition Program offers school-age children and youth nutritious food through breakfast, lunch, and snack programs. Contact the Windsor-Essex coordinators for more information on how to apply, donate or volunteer.
• Fresh From the Farm (French) – Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association
  • Fundraise with fresh locally grown produce to support the health and wellbeing of your school community. 
• Elementary School Fresh Milk Program – Dairy Farmers of Ontario
  • A resource to support an elementary school milk program. 

School Grants  and Funding Opportunities

• Ontario Student Nutrition Program, Southwest Region: Administers funding and provides program support for Student Nutrition Programs
• TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant (French): Supports environmental initiatives with a focus on environmental education and green space programs. Eligible programs include school yard greening and community gardens (go to the website to view the full list).
• President’s Choice- PC’s Power Full Kids™ (French): Funds the costs of purchasing food to support educators to teach students to grow and cook. Those enrolled in the Power Full Kids program can also access the Equipment Fund. The Grow and Cook fund covers the cost of growing or cooking tools to support educators with food-based curriculum education. Apply on their website.
• Whole Kids Foundation: Dedicated to helping kids eat better and offers a variety of grants including the Garden Grant Program, the Bee Grant Program and the Canadian Farm to School Grant.
• Walmart - Community Grant: Grant programs to build and support communities focused on Hunger Relief, Food Access, and Healthy Eating.