Healthy Investments in Chignecto-Central Schools and Communities

Students in central Nova Scotia will have more healthy food choices and opportunities to be physically active, thanks to a $70,000 investment from the province.

The grant was provided to the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board to support schools in becoming Health Promoting Schools.

"The Health Promoting Schools program is a perfect example of everyone working together to benefit the health of our children in their school community," said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Barry Barnet. "This grant is making it possible in Chignecto-Central schools."

Health Promoting Schools involves a range of programs, activities, and services that take place in school communities. The program is designed not only to affect the health of individual students, but also to make the places where children live and learn, healthier.

Research shows that combining healthy eating and physical activity is the most successful way to promote healthy living. Schools are recognized as an ideal setting to promote healthy eating and physical activity.

With the grant, the school board plans to enhance and expand its current programs, commitments and partnerships. Current programs include finding alternative fundraising methods to selling food, maintaining their after-school activity programs and finding a way to offer affordable healthy choices from food service providers.

"We want to invest diversity in our programs so we can reach all our students fairly and effectively," said Coleen Davidson, co-ordinator of community education and partnerships for Chignecto-Central. "Our vision is to see all students making healthy decisions now and making them life long decisions because they are the role models for healthy living."

The school board's existing sport animator and active healthy-living consultant will work together to support the implementation of the new programs and activities. They will have support from the Colchester East Hants Health Authority, Pictou County Health Authority and Cumberland Health Authority's additional public health nutritionists, funded as part of the Healthy Eating Nova Scotia strategy. Families, health professionals, educators, schools, community organizations and young people must all work together to create a successful health promoting school.

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that 32 per cent of Nova Scotia children and youth are overweight or obese, which is above the national average. The benefits of Health Promoting Schools are far reaching -- from improving student health and school environments to improving student success at learning. Schools that promote a healthy lifestyle can also empower young people to take responsibility for their health, show pride in their school and take ownership of school policies.