Brown Bag Olympics

This activity was sent to the MACH Diabetes Prevention Project by Public Health Nutritionist, Cathy Chenhallin from Nova Scotia. It was developed as part of their Healthy Foods at School Program. She reports that this activity was popular with both students and teachers.

The Brown Bag Olympics is an easy, effective and fun way to promote and support healthy eating in the school. This activity encourages parents and children to prepare and eat healthy school recess and lunch food choices.

The criteria for the Brown Bag Olympics are as follows:

• Foods are from the 4 food groups of Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating, or use the Northern Food Guide in your Diabetes Medicine Bag
  
• The foods provide nutrients for growth
  
• The foods are not deep fried
  
• The foods do not stick to teeth
  
• Have limited artificial flavouring, colouring and preservatives

And the medal goes to...

To earn GOLD - Lunch must include at least one food choice from each of the four food groups that fit the above criteria.

To earn SILVER - Lunch must include at least one food choice form three of the four food groups that fit the above criteria.

To earn BRONZE - Lunch must include foods that provide nutrients for growth, are not deep fried, do not stick to teeth, have limited artificial flavoring, colouring and preservatives.

The BROWN BAG OLYMPICS can take place in your classroom for a week, two weeks or a month at any time throughout the year. Try this activity early in the school year. Work with the school principal to develop a certificate so that each student can receive a certificate of participation and possibly another small incentive such as a fancy pencil. Make the Olympics a class activity, not an individual competition. Awards are given to the entire class not just individual members of the class.