March 31, 2006 – The Quebec government wants to eliminate junk food in schools. To do this, schools will be invited to offer healthy menus in their cafeteria and to replace the contents of their vending machines.
By the end of the year, the Quebec government will in fact propose to school boards a framework policy on food with the aim of banning junk food from schools “as quickly as possible”, without however forcing them. to take this healthy turn.
Schools will be encouraged to organize educational activities in nutrition. “This could compensate for the disappearance of home economics courses,” said Roch Cholette, parliamentary assistant to the Prime Minister for youth issues. Home economics courses, which dealt with both nutrition and the art of cooking, were abolished from Quebec high schools a few years ago.
Educational institutions will also have to promote healthy lifestyles, including physical activity. The new policy provides for the training of personnel in this regard.
Among the many challenges that this framework policy will face, the first will be to define what junk food is, an exercise that promises to be laborious. “It’s not easy to say what junk food is … We will do it with our partners, including the Professional Order of Dietitians of Quebec,” said MP Roch Cholette.
It should be noted that the objective of banning junk food from schools is part of a broader strategy targeting Quebec youth.1.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. To access the Youth Action Strategy 2006-2009 – For youth committed to their success : www.jeunes.gouv.qc.ca/strategie/index.htm [consulté le 30 mars 2006].
