Healthy Snack 2008 at Menno Simons School, Cleardale

We have run the healthy snack program since March, Nutrition Month. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at first recess the school has provided an interesting and nutritious snack. We were hoping to introduce some foods that are difficult to send in a lunch kit or some foods that may not be common for the family.

This program was set up to be helpful for the parents, as we know how tiring sending lunches can be. We know that all our children are blessed with enough food to eat. We are so fortunate in this country to have lots of food! We applied to the Breakfast for Learning program and the Clearhills County for funding. We applied to several other programs to get money to run this program as it is expensive to feed 175 students. One of the guidelines for the Breakfast for Learning program was that it had to be offered at least three times a week. We felt that with our excellent hot lunch program running on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, it would work well to offer a snack the other three days.

We got extra funds to offer fruits and vegetables, as Health Canada has discovered that Canadians do not get enough of this food group. I know even for myself it is tricky to get 8-10 servings each day. That is a lot of fruit and veggies, especially when it is not part of our culture to eat vegetables for breakfast.

We did a survey and listening to comments we have had a really positive response to this program. We will be applying for funds to run the program again next year. Our milk program fits nicely with the ideas of the snack program and it will continue for next year also.

This program also supports the health curriculum, in that it is a hands-on way of teaching students about healthy choices. We appreciate the support from the staff in serving this snack. It has been a really big commitment on their part as they miss first recess. We are looking at trying to find some time to give the students some extra time outside to make up for giving up recess. A special thanks to all the people who have helped out with the healthy snack program and especially our kind sponsors, Clearhills County and the Breakfast for Learning program.

Donna Ross