There’s been plenty of reaction since the province decided to ban the sale of flavoured milk and juices in public schools.
Groups like the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick are against the move, but the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick says it’s a step in the right direction.
Christine Roherty, vice-president of health promotion, tells us the province is struggling with an unhealthy eating culture — and that has to change.
“Children are at school for the majority of the day, for the majority of the year, and when we have an environment that supports the healthy food choices as the easiest and most popular food choices, that becomes part of the culture for the children,” says Roherty, who adds they’re more likely to grow into adults who make healthy food choices.
The changes to Policy 711 will help make the healthy choice the easiest and most popular choice in all NB schools. HSFNB would like to applaud the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for this huge step forward! https://t.co/PWTLK4Z6BEhttps://t.co/lYali9a85s
— Heart and Stroke NB (@HSFNB) June 18, 2018
While the change doesn’t stop students from bringing flavoured milk or juice with them, she says schools won’t be responsible for creating an environment that supports the unhealthy food choice.
Roherty says the hope is children will take what they learn back into their homes and communities.
“There are situations in the past where children have actually learned about recycling and the environment at school and they’ve brought that home to their parents,” she says.
