A NEW TAKE ON SNACKS PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY CUBES {page 21}
DOWNSIZING? SINGER WEIGHING BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY {page 17}
CALGARY
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
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Trustee targets CBE junk food
New. Threads
Motion to remove chocolate bars, chips coming forward in two weeks Similar move in Edmonton schools came into effect JEREMY NOLAIS
@METRONEWS.CA
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One Calgary public school trustee is aiming to take the junk out of foods available to students. Sheila Taylor brought forward a notice of motion at the Calgary Board of Education’s (CBE) first trustee meeting for the new school year last night to eliminate the sale of chips, chocolate bars and other unhealthy snacks. “Choice is important but teaching healthy habits is also important,” Taylor said. “We are in our schools talking about healthy eating, and I think we need to practise what we preach.” Taylor said she is specifically targeting the worst nutritional offerings available to students. While she doesn’t consider them overly healthy, items like processed cheese, fruit drinks and granola bars would be
spared. The motion comes just as Edmonton’s public school board invoked a junk-food ban of its own that was originally approved in 2007. At that time, CBE officials questioned a ban among its schools as well and told reporters they were comfortable with advocating for healthy options but leaving the ultimate choice to students. CBE administration representatives were not available for comment last night, having only just learned of Taylor’s motion. Calgary mother of three Stephanie Aleksiuk supported the move. “I like to be in control of what my kids are eating, and if they have pocket change, they can get things that maybe aren’t the best for them,” she said. When asked about potential impacts to agreements between the CBE and food vendors, Tay-
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Childhood obesity Steady rise. Alberta health officials have reported a steady rise in childhood obesity in the province with recent figures suggesting 22 per cent of kids fall into the category. Unhealthy. Calgary schools already no longer sell soda and some other unhealthy beverages. From home. Even if Sheila Taylor’s motion is approved, students would still be allowed to bring all types of food from home. Motion. Taylor’s motion is expected to go before CBE trustees Sept. 20.
lor deemed funding schools through the sale of junk food to be “shortsighted.”
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