Ministry of Education

Back to school tips for healthy, active students

VICTORIA – Students are more likely to succeed if they are healthy and

active. With families preparing for the start of school, here are some

tips to encourage healthy eating and an active lifestyle:

Parents of Primary Students:

* Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your children’s snacks

and lunches every day.

* Have your children help you pack their lunches, so they can learn to

make healthy choices early on. For some tips, check out this video:

* Help your children learn about and understand Canada’s Food Guide at:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php

* To encourage fitness take family walks with your children and, if

possible, walk them to school.

* Join or co-ordinate a Walking School Bus or Bicycle Train to help your

children get to school safely with adult supervision. For tips on how to

do this, check out the DASH BC website at:

http://www.dashbc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=80

* Introduce your children to active games they can play on their own,

like hopscotch or jumping rope. When more children are around, introduce

tag, soccer or baseball.

Parents of Intermediate/Middle School Students:

* Whenever possible, encourage your children to walk, ride, rollerblade

or skateboard to school instead of you driving them.

* Suggest that your children take the dog for a walk before and after

school.

* Limit your children’s screen time. Explain to your children that it’s

important to sit less and move more in order to stay at a healthy

weight.

* As children grow, their nutritional needs change. Continue to

encourage healthy eating habits using Canada’s Food Guide to plan

healthy meals and snacks.

* Teach your children to limit foods high in sugar, fat and sodium, and

help them learn to replace these foods with more nutritious snacks

instead.

Parents of Secondary Students:

* Encourage your teens to get plenty of rest to ensure they are alert

and ready to learn at school.

* Encourage your teenagers to get involved in after-school sports.

* Suggest your teenagers take a class at the local community centre or

encourage them to participate in a walking or hiking group.

* Teach your children how to buy, prepare and enjoy healthy meals using

Canada’s Food Guide.

All Parents:

* Encourage your children to eat breakfast every day, as it provides

fuel for the brain to learn and helps them maintain a healthy weight.

* Keep nutritious foods, like cut-up vegetables and fruit, cheese

sticks, yogurt and butter-free popcorn on hand to make healthy snacking

easy.

* If your child has food allergies, co-ordinate with the school

principal on an updated emergency plan that best meets your child’s

needs.

* Schedule regular dental and any necessary medical checkups.

* Encourage your children to choose milk or water at meals instead of

sugary drinks or energy drinks.

* Get children active through sports, or go for nightly family walks or

bike rides.

* Develop good hand-washing habits, as frequent hand-washing reduces the

spread of cold and flu viruses.