Good Food for Healthy Minds

The importance of nutrition

The importance of healthy food is undeniable, especially with the growing problems of childhood obesity and the temptations of junk food aimed at kids. In 2009, the English Montreal School Board adopted a new Nutrition Policy to combat these trends, promoting healthy eating habits and distributing nutritious foods to students.

Learn more on EMSB about Nutrition & Food Services

What does that mean for lunches made at home?

You can actively contribute to healthier eating, as outlined by the Nutrition Policy, by choosing nutritious and varied foods for your child’s lunch box or snacks by:

• Prioritizing foods from the 4 food groups of Canada’s Food Guide when packing lunch boxes and snacks.
• Vegetables and Fruit
• Grain Products
• Milk and Alternatives
• Meat and Alternatives
• Avoid products in which sugar is the first ingredient listed (other names for sugar include sucrose, fructose, dextrose, glucose, fructose, invert sugar, malt syrup or corn syrup).
• Avoid products containing saturated or hydrogenated fats (trans fats) such as shortening, hydrogenated oil, lard, tallow, palm or palm kernel.

Hot Lunch Program

While St. Monica does not have a cafeteria on site, we are happy to offer a hot lunch program through Mini Bistro for parents who wish to purchase lunch. Your child will enjoy high-quality meals that are lower in sugar, fat and food additives, providing essential nutrients according to Canada’s Food Guide.

Visit the website at https://leminibistro.emsb.qc.ca/

Please take note that St. Monica does not have microwaves or other cooking equipment (cutlery) on site available to students, so parents should not send food to school that requires reheating. Also ensure that you provide your child with plastic forks and spoons as needed.

Food allergies

Some students have food allergies. We ask that all parents keep this in mind when choosing food items for lunch and snacks.

To avoid allergic reactions:

• Inform St. Monica’s front office and your child’s teacher of the allergy and ensure that auto-injectors (Epipen) are readily available.
• Ask your child’s teacher about the “designated eating area for students with allergies” in your school

Providing a safe environment for St. Monica students is a major concern! However, we cannot guarantee an allergen safe environment. Parents should also take all necessary precautions.