MANITOULIN—Public Health Sudbury and Districts offered an opportunity for local schools to participate in a contest to make changes to their school’s nutrition environment. Schools were encouraged to sign up and complete nutrition challenges to claim BrightBites’ badges. Each badge earned them a higher rank in the BrightBites Hall of Fame and improved their chances of winning. Charles C. McLean Public School in Gore Bay and Central Manitoulin Public School in Mindemoya were the lucky winners right here on Manitoulin— earning themselves each an indoor tabletop garden among other prizes.
BrightBites (www.brightbites.ca) is a provincial website, available in English and French, created to inspire schools to improve their food culture in a fun, easy and rewarding way. BrightBites has tools, resources and success stories to guide and inspire teachers and other school leaders to help them make positive changes “one bite at a time” and recognizes them for their efforts. Recognition comes in the form of fun badges that appear on the BrightBites Hall of Fame and can be shared through social media.
The website takes school teams through four easy steps to boost how food is used in celebrations, fundraising, school events, and more. It also encourages schools to offer more experiential learning opportunities related to food, like gardening and cooking.
“We knew area schools were already doing great things to improve their school’s food culture. The contest was a great opportunity for them to show others what they are doing and to be recognized for all their hard work,” said Melanie Gagne, registered dietitian with Public Health Sudbury and Districts. “Both C.C. McLean Public School and Central Manitoulin Public School involved their students in cooking and gardening activities, two things that have been proven to positively impact children’s likeability of vegetables and fruit.”
Boosting nutrition in a school environment can make a significant difference for students. Being a positive role model and promoting the enjoyment of eating wholesome foods can create healthier eating habits for life and support student well-being. It’s not just about “eating healthy.” It’s about having a joyful, nourishing and balanced approach to growing, choosing, cooking, and eating food and BrightBites helps with just that.
