Badges

If you haven’t done so already, it is ideal to get together a group of interested people from the school community (e.g. students, staff, parents/guardians/caregivers and other community members) to work on this badge.  Be sure to engage the entire school community and provide opportunities for input as the work progresses. This will help increase buy-in from your school community.

Badge Benefits

Learning to prepare food builds self-esteem, confidence and a sense of achievement while developing valuable life skills. Students who learn to prepare foods are more likely to try new foods, eat better and be more confident in the kitchen, now and in the future.

The school cafeteria should be a place where students want to go because it is a pleasant and safe environment where kids can eat, socialize and relax before and between classes. Earn this badge by improving the feel of the cafeteria so that it is inviting and comfortable and encourages students to stay at school during their lunch break.

Growing food helps students learn where food comes from and may spark interest in eating vegetables, fruit and other nutritious plant foods. Outdoor school gardens have the added bonus of increasing physical activity and a sense of community. Plant any type of edible garden (indoor or outdoor) to earn this badge.

Rewards are commonly used to recognize achievements and success and often involve foods and beverages that are high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt with few nutrients. This practice is tempting because it results in short-term success; however, it has consequences. Earn this badge by rewarding achievement and success with positive statements, physical activity and non-food rewards.

Improving the menu for food offered and sold to students and staff (e.g. catered lunches in elementary schools, graduation dinners, pizza parties, staff meetings, etc.) is a great way to boost student health, support learning, and reinforce classroom lessons. These meals can also be used to celebrate food cultures, develop taste buds, and learn new food skills. Earn this badge by improving the catered food menu(s) using the Helpful Tools and Activities provided!

Celebrations like birthdays, holidays and end-of-year parties often involve foods and drinks that are high in sugar, saturated fat, salt with few nutrients. Tying less nutritious food to celebrations sends the message that fun and ‘treats’ go together. This can lead to eating more of these foods (and fewer nutritious foods) in an attempt to be happy. Improving the quality of food (or removing food), helps prevent this from happening, puts the focus on the real reason for the celebration, and is how to earn this badge!

Student Nutrition Programs (SNPs) are a great way to provide students with nutritious food to fuel their minds and bodies, but you can take it one step further! Involve students in all aspects of the program and help others learn about what the SNP has to offer. Earn this badge by making the SNP the best it can be!

Schools are often on the look-out for creative ways to make money; however, selling chocolate bars, cookie dough, candy, etc. sends the wrong message to students. Believe it or not, schools can earn money and send consistent, positive health messages, support classroom lessons and promote health to students and their families. Earn this badge by switching to non-food or nutritious food only fundraisers!

Be creative and design a campaign to celebrate Nutrition Month in March, or to celebrate healthy eating any time of the year! Think about and promote topics that are important to your school. For inspiration, check out Dietitians of Canada’s Nutrition Month campaign, held each March. Be sure to use credible sources of nutrition information like Dietitians of Canada, UnlockFood.ca and Health Canada.

Food is often the centre of school meetings and events, but do the food and beverages offered show a commitment to eating well? Is food even necessary? Serving tasty and nutritious food and beverages at meetings and events (when necessary) is a great way to ‘walk the talk’. Earn this badge by improving the menu at your meeting(s) or event(s) or opting not to include food.

Providing and promoting water, especially in place of sugar-sweetened beverages, can help prevent dental cavities, promote overall health, and help students and staff feel better throughout the day. Earn this badge by promoting water as the beverage of choice at school.