Edmonton public schools go junk food free

Edmonton's 190 public schools are banning the sale of unhealthy snack foods in cafeterias, canteens and vending machines.

"I was appalled that while we were preaching the message of the importance of children leading healthy, active lifestyles, we were continuing to sell children food that was quite obviously unhealthy," said board chairman Dave Colburn.

Colburn started fighting for the ban five years ago when he became upset by the unhealthy food his daughter could obtain at school. Unhealthy foods are those high in fat, salt and sugar, but low in nutritional content

Last fall public schools removed junk food from vending machines. This year junk food will be removed from junior-high canteens and high-school cafeterias.

"Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 will see healhy food products, low in fat, salt and sugar and high in nutritional content or value being offered exclusively in Edmonton public schools," Colburn said.

"There will be no junk food sales: no pop, no potato chips, no chocolate bars."

Banning junk food normalizes healthy eating for students as they work their way through the school system and helps them learn better, said Colburn.

"There is a growing body of evidence that improving the nutritional practices of children leads to improved academic achievement."

The policy won't completely ban junk food as students are still allowed to bring whatever they want from home.