Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Feb;25(1):33-46.
doi: 10.1093/pch/pxz102. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

School nutrition: Support for providing healthy food and beverage choices in schools

[Article in English, French]
Affiliations
Review

School nutrition: Support for providing healthy food and beverage choices in schools

[Article in English, French]
Jeffrey N Critch. Paediatr Child Health. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

The implementation of nutrition policies and guidelines in Canadian schools has increased the availability and consumption of nutrient-rich foods while reducing access to and consumption of foods and beverages that are high in sugars, sodium, and saturated fats. Positive changes in health outcomes for children and youth, such as improved body mass indices, have been observed. However, observed impacts of school nutrition policies on academic performance have been mixed. This statement reviews key elements of school nutrition policies, with specific focus on nutrition standards. School nutrition policies should align with recommendations in Canada's Food Guide and promote nutrient-rich foods and beverages that are lower in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium.

Keywords: Comprehensive school health; School nutrition policy; Sugar-sweetened beverages.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Committee on Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention, Food and Nutrition Board; Institute of Medicine, et al. Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2012. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health. Comprehensive School Health Framework.http://www.jcsh-cces.ca/index.php/about/comprehensive-school-health (Accessed April 3, 2019).
    1. Veugelers Schwartz ME. Comprehensive school health in Canada. Can J Public Health 2010;101(Suppl 2):S5–8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. McKenna ML. Policy options to support healthy eating in schools. Can J Public Health 2010;101(Suppl 2):S14–7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0795-01. Measured children and youth body mass index (BMI) (WHO classification), by age group and sex, Canada and provinces, Canadian Community Health Survey – Nutrition (n.d.) (formerly CANSIM - 105–2024) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310079501 (Accessed April 3, 2019).