Saskatchewan schoolchildren participating in the third annual Walk to Breakfast program took time for a power stroll before eating a nourishing breakfast Sept. 11.
In Meadow Lake, students at Carpenter Community High School walked around a track wearing their school colours. They returned to school for parfaits made by the food studies class, plus muffins and juice boxes.
Later they took part in In Motion fitness, where participants cheered and danced to a song presented by the student council.
Mary-Lou Hamoline, co-ordinator of the school’s extreme makeover challenge submission and Walk to Breakfast event, said it was “almost like a great big cheer for a football team.”
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Created by the Saskatchewan Nutrition Advisory Council for Kids (SNACK) and supported by Breakfast for Life, Walk to Breakfast is designed to promote physical activity and healthy eating.
Carolyn Chu, Saskatoon Public Health nutritionist, said an ideal breakfast should include all four food groups, but a good breakfast would include three.
Unfortunately, many children do not get this meal each morning.
“We know that 42 percent of Canadian children don’t have a daily nutritious breakfast,” said Donna Ziegler, chair of SNACK. “So it’s important that they get the opportunity to have a nutritious snack in the morning.”
Breakfast beneficial
Numerous studies have proven that good nutrition is linked to academic achievement, including better grades, fewer absences and higher motivation and self-confidence.
“Children who miss even one breakfast have problems with problem solving and math later in the day,” said Chu.
“Schools need to set an example.”
While the focus of the breakfast was to provide students with a healthy meal, it was also a chance for SNACK to present the winners of the makeover challenge.
The challenge encourages Saskatchewan schools to create and implement health conscious plans.
Nutrition is a key component of the plan and physical activity, school-wide participation, emotional well-being and community involvement must also be included.
This year, first-place went to St. Edward School in Saskatoon, which received $5,000. Runners up included Carpenter Community High School and Quill Lake School, each receiving a cheque for $2,500.
