Nutrition program vital component to health and well-being of students
A program that ensures more than 17,000 children and youth across Niagara receive a healthy breakfast, lunch and/or snack helps improve not only academic performance but also healthy eating habits, says Anne Kirkpatrick, Niagara Nutrition Partner’s Program manager
“Our organization’s contribution is a vital component to the health, education and well-being of tomorrow’s future leaders,” says Kirkpatrick, of the student nutrition programs.
“Students who participate in student nutrition programs are improving their quality of life twofold. Not only are they optimizing their academic and behavioural performance during the school day, they are also securing long-term health by learning healthy eating habits that will benefit them for a lifetime.”
Thursday, pastry chef Anna Olson will host the 8th annual Niagara Nutrition Partners Breakfast Gala Niagara Student Cook-off competition which brings awareness to the programs.
High schools from across Niagara will send their best culinary students to Amici’s Banquet and Conference Centre, 2740 Merrittville Hwy., Thorold, to create outstanding breakfast dishes. Approximately seven schools from District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Catholic District School Board and the French language public school board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, will set up cooking stations and get to work slicing and dicing from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Eight community representatives will serve as judges for the breakfast competition which also marks Niagara Nutrition Partners’s 20th anniversary.
Niagara Nutrition Partners is a regionwide initiative providing co-ordinated nutrition programs in elementary and secondary schools, as well as community-based programs.
For more information visit www.niagaranutritionpartners.ca.