FREDERICTON – School cafeteria menus across the province got a failing grade from the New Brunswick Medical Society with less than half meeting nutritional guidelines.
As part of their second Make Menus Matter project, the Society asked parents to send them photos of their child’s menus.
They were sent over 100 menus, representing 41 per cent of all schools across the province. Doctors and dietitians analysed each one.
Of them, 27 per cent met provincial nutritional guidelines, while 54 per cent did not. It was not clear if the remaining menus, 19 per cent, met the guidelines.
“A lot of folks would have expected maybe some more advancement after the discussion we had in 2014 about ways to improve school cafeteria menus, unfortunately it doesn’t seem like we’re seeing that change yet,” said Anthony Knight, the Society’s CEO.
Dieticians looked for whole, balanced meals which included vegetables, a healthy carbohydrate or starch and protein.
“We know that obesity is a huge challenge facing New Brunswick and doctors in the province believe that we have to start early in people’s lives in influencing the choices they make,” Knight said.
Fredericton High School has revamped its cafeteria menu over the last two years. Now, students can find snacks at under 300 calories and a salad bar.
“I actually just moved here from out of province, from Winnipeg, and I’ve noticed a lot of changes in this cafeteria rather than the one at my old school,” said Grade 11 student Abbey MacLean.
“We had things like burgers and fries and here they even have the option of getting sweet potato fries and there’s vegetarian options which I didn’t have at my old school.”
The Medical Society will be releasing stories of schools serving exceptional food next week.
Comments