6000 Local Students & Staff Join in Great Big Crunch Heard From Coast to Coast
Written by admin, March 6, 2014
March 6, 2014 – Event Celebrates Healthy Eating and Student Nutrition Programs As Part of 2014 Nutrition Month
Today 5,983 local students and staff from 23 schools took part in a Canada-wide synchronized bite of locally grown apples to promote healthy eating during 2014 National Nutrition Month.
“The Great Big Crunch is a fun way to bring staff and students together to make a noise for healthy eating and local food systems,” said Chris McCarthy, Food For Kids Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Program Coordinator. “This event is a great way to kick off March as nutrition month and provide students and teachers the opportunity to connect nutrition to learning.”
At Chemong Public School, Principal Lori Woodbeck stated, “We believe that encouraging healthy eating is an important part of being a healthy school. One way we do this is by always having bowls of fresh fruit in the main hall and in the junior/intermediate wing available for students. We are happy to take part in the Great Big Crunch to emphasize eating healthy local foods.”
This year, Soroptimist International of Peterborough partnered with Food for Kids to help fund this event. “Our members recognize the importance of this educational opportunity, which coincides with the Soroptimist mission ‘to improve women’s and girls’ lives through a program that will provide social and economic empowerment,” said Tanna Edwards, President of Soroptimist International of Peterborough. “Certainly teaching our girls and boys to choose healthy foods and helping them to understand the value of good nutrition will provide better learning outcomes, thereby nurturing their empowerment.”
Organized locally by Food For Kids Peterborough and County, the Great Big Crunch is a national event initiated by FoodShare Toronto to raise awareness about healthy eating and local and global food systems.
Food For Kids Peterborough and County is a non-profit community partnership which supports student nutrition programs in 47 elementary and secondary schools throughout Peterborough County and City. Student Nutrition Programs in Peterborough City and County receive substantial funding from the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Breakfast Clubs of Canada, and Breakfast for Learning through their local charitable partner, the Peterborough Family Resource Centre. Over 180 local community partners donated food, funding, supplies, space, and volunteer time to support Food For Kids programs.
Each student nutrition program is staffed by volunteers who offer healthy food choices in an inviting inclusive and welcoming environment to all students. In the 2012-2013 school year, more than 1000 community volunteers served 1.9 million breakfasts and snacks to local students.
For more information about Food For Kids, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/ffk. Follow Great Big Crunch activities on Twitter: #greatbigcrunch.
For further information, please contact:
Chris McCarthy
Food For Kids Peterborough and County Student Nutrition Program Coordinator
(705) 742-2269
cmccarthy.snp@live.com
Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
Peterborough County City Public Health
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391
bcadence@peterboroughpublichealth.ca