Rethinking the school lunch.

Everyday my child goes to school, my mind wonders on what I can produce for him for his lunch that day. Of course producing a lunch everyday that is healthy and balanced is a challenge in these busy times and there are days that I feel very guilty about what is in his lunch. I search daily for new ideas that will give him his balanced nutrition, that he will eat and that will give him the energy to carry on during his day.

There are of course many reasons why we should care what is given to our children for school lunches. Food nourishes body and The Ontario ministry of education has begun to do that with its new Foods and Beverages policy to be implemented in September 2011.http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/policy.html There is also information regarding the changes in Ontario schools under http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/tipsParents.html which gives tips for parents.This policy concerns primarily food that is sold on school premises. I've heard many parents concerned about what they can send their children with to school after this policy is implemented. This is where the schools can help in reaching out to parents through workshops run by the school councils. This is an important policy that is a start in prevention of many health issues that are starting in children.

Access to healthy foods is also an academic issue. Research suggests that better nutrition can mean higher test scores, increased cognitive function, attention and memory for our children in class. What better reason than to change the way we do school lunches?

some ideas for school lunches http://www.freshforkids.com.au/recipes/main_meals.html

As a cultural issue, the experience of eating builds community, celebrating and strengthening our community and diversity. As a cultural issue, access to clean and healthy foods can become too a local issue. Support for local food initiatives is increasing and by supporting local farms in the production of school lunches, the community wins with local economic benefits. In developing policies to enhance ties between schools and farms, children can obtain a richer learning environment. Students can be connected with the farm through farm to school programs. Where children can visit farms through school programs and learn about food and where it comes from and who grows their foods.

Local communities gain in building partnerships and raising community awareness. School gardens can be a starting point for children learning about food and healthy lifestyles. Transporting foods burns up huge amounts of fossil fuels and creates pollution. All you have to do is look at the cost of transporting strawberries across the continent to Northern Ontario. We have learnt not to eat in season and we have learned that strawberries can be eaten year round, but at what cost? Increasing reliance on local food production enhances and strengthens community resilience and food security.