Brigden Public School is proudly participating in Club V&F!

As part of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, Brigden Public School is one of 10 Ontario Student Nutrition Program schools that are participating. During the next few months, your child will take part in two salad bar events and activities involving the preparation and consumption of vegetables and fruit. During the salad bar events, children will have the opportunity to build their own salads and try a variety of vegetables and fruit.

Vegetables and fruit help provide children and families with the vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, and overall energy needed to be physically active and play every day. A diet rich in veggies and fruit is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and obesity. This is a great time to make sure your child is consuming enough vegetables and fruit. Eating vegetables and fruit is essential for good health. Canada’s Food Guide recommends a minimum number of servings of vegetables and fruit for children every day. Below is a chart that summarizes these recommendations.

Most children are not meeting these recommendations. Encourage your child to try new vegetables and fruit and to snack on them during the day.

Our first salad bar day will consist of a leaf lettuce with vegetable, fruit and dairy toppings. In addition, we will be preparing a pasta salad. Your child will have the option of adding their own toppings and dressing. This salad bar is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28^th during 1^st nutrition break. This is not substituting a meal, but is a healthy snack therefore a reduced lunch is still required for your child.

A number of parent and student volunteers will be coordinating the planning, preparation and cleanup of these events. Safe Food Handler handbooks and courses have been read & completed in order to ensure a safe food environment.

Thank you,

Chad Brown

Principal