Is healthy eating about free choice, expert guidance, or should it be the only option permitted in schools? Those are some of the talking points as Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board presents its far-reaching draft Nutrition Policy for public consultation.

The goal is to strengthen the nutritional practices in schools and eliminate foods with minimal nutritional value. But to do this, public input is also important. The draft must be approved by trustees, who requested a Board nutrition policy.

"Families lead busy lives and there are more and more processed foods at home," said Bob Barlow, trustee for wards 9 and 10. "This is really about education, about helping students make the best choices when it comes to food."

Under the draft Nutrition Policy:

*Schools and facilities would offer foods only of moderate to maximum nutritional value under the Canada Food Guide to Healthy Eating. (Foods at the top of the nutritional scale are low in fat, sugar and salt and are good or excellent sources of nutrients.)

*By year three of implementation, foods of minimal nutritional value as well as bottled water would be eliminated in schools and Board facilities. (These foods provide few nutrients, are generally high in fat, added sugar, salt, caffeine and/or calories, and tend to be highly processed.)

*Food would not be used as a reward in classrooms

*Criteria for food service contracts would seek locally-grown and produced foods wherever possible; use of whole foods not processed; healthy foods reflecting cultural diversity; healthier preparation methods; and posting of food’s nutritional value.

*Schools may designated five (5) special event days per year, during which they may provide foods of minimal nutritional value.

*Fundraising should not be done using food. If so, the food will be of maximum or moderate nutritional value.

*Secondary schools will form Healthy Eating Action Teams (HEAT) to promote healthy eating at schools.

The draft Nutrition Policy complements other work the Board does in the pursuit of healthier schools such as posting nutritional data in secondary cafeterias, banning food with trans fats, daily physical activity for elementary students and the phased-in ban on the purchase and sale of bottled water.

“Modelling proper nutrition is essential to a healthy lifestyle,” says Krys Croxall, superintendent of education, elementary program and assessment. “The more we encourage healthy nutrition in our schools, the greater the opportunity we have to ensure that our students are nutritionally well-prepared for learning so that they can achieve their full potential.”

But there are some concerns, explains Hamilton parent Lee Gowers, policy chair for the Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations, which has its own nutrition policy. In general the policy is a good idea because we all want healthier choices for our students, she said.

“I’m just not sure that it is encouraging the right decision-making. It is taking away the choice by only leaving foods of maximum nutritional value,” she said, noting parents are also concerned about a potential impact on birthday treats, bake sales and bazaars.

“This has to go hand-in-hand with education about healthy food choices.”

Barlow agreed that nutritional education is but says that, especially for elementary students, a Nutrition Policy can help build positive eating habits.

The draft Nutrition Policy also drew attention from the Canadian Diabetes Association, which has seen an alarming rise in the number of people living with type 2 diabetes.

“It’s our hope that through the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board’s Nutrition Policy and continued health promotion, we can decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes in future generations,” said Karin Swift, public programs and services coordinator at the CDA.