Students Choose Cafeteria Foods Despite Proximity of Outside Food Outlets

Contact:
Jenny Garrels, Home Ec Teacher
Elphinstone Secondary, SD#46 Sunshine Coast

Process:
Healthy food came to Elphinstone Secondary long before the Guidelines.  Candy, pop, and chips have not been sold for 2-3 years, and in the cafeteria, baked chips and granola bars are the only pre-packaged items offered.  Everything else is made from scratch – bagels, whole wheat croissants, yogourt and granola parfaits, hot entrée and vegetable daily - and aside from the cookies and the coffee, which is primarily available for teachers, Jenny feels quite confident the school is meeting the Guidelines.

People involved:
Foods classes, Planning 10 classes, cafeteria staff

Key changes or results:
Despite being within easy walking distance of a mall, Starbuck’s, Subway, A&W and a gas station with pop slushies, Jenny estimates about 200 students a day purchase something from the cafeteria.

Challenges:
The fast food outlets close to the school

Keys to success:
The food sold in the cafeteria is good, healthy and inexpensive. As well the school culture has changed. Indeed, in her Planning 10 class, Jenny has the students journal about the availability of junk food at school, but it’s getting to the point where students have no experience of this and to them it’s a non-issue - it’s so obvious healthy foods are what should be available.

Next steps:
Elphinstone has received a grant to plan a school garden and kitchen upgrade.  It’s envisioned the garden will provide produce for the cafeteria, as well as for community events.  Like Vernon Secondary, Elphinstone has started a pre-apprenticeship program for cook training, which will necessitate an expanded menu to provide a wider range of foods.  Providing lunches to elementary schools is being considered.