For Schools and Communities

Healthy meal and snack options are an important part of creating healthy eating environments where we live, learn, work and play. These resources provide you with information on nutrition standards for schools and public buildings in B.C.

Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools

Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools

The Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools (the Guidelines) define the nutrition standard that schools are required to use to determine what food and beverages can be sold to students. This document contains information, tools and fact sheets to support implementation of the Guidelines across the school setting.

• English - Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
• French - Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools

Guidelines Fact Sheets

The Guidelines include a series of fact sheets to help parents, food providers, school administrators, and teachers with implementation. Click on the links below to learn more.

• Boosting the Sales of Nutritious Food in Schools
• Food Fundraiser Ideas for Schools
• Involving Everyone in Implementing the Guidelines
• Making Bake Sales Delicious and Nutritious
• Planning Healthy Cafeteria Menus
• Selling Food and Beverages at School Sporting Events
• Stock Vending Machines and Stores with Healthy Food and Beverages

Guidelines At-a-Glance

This document provides a brief overview of the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools.

• English - Guidelines At-a-Glance
• French - Guidelines At-a-Glance

Ready-to-Use Guidelines Presentations

These ready-to-use slide presentations can help you teach others about the Guidelines for Food and Beverages Sales in BC Schools. They will help you provide an overview of the Guidelines, provide details on how to implement the Guidelines, and teach others how to use the Checklist. Speaking notes are inserted into the second version of each presentation listed below.

• An Overview of the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
  • Speaking notes for presentation
• How to Implement the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
  • Speaking notes for presentation
• Learning to Use the Checklist in the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools
  • Speaking notes for presentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools.

• Frequently Asked Questions

The Checklist: Scoring Summary Reports

The scoring summary reports help people that prepare food and beverages for sale to students in B.C. schools score freshly-made foods using the Checklist. You can find the Checklist in the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools (PDF 5.61 MB), on pages 18 to 37.

To get started, score your menu items using the Checklist, and then record the results in the relevant scoring summary report listed below. There is a separate report for each food and beverage category in the Checklist. The scoring summary reports can then be shared with school food purchasers to prove that freshly made menu items meet the criteria set out in the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools.

• Scoring Summary Report - Beverages
• Scoring Summary Report - Grain Dishes and Baked Goods
• Scoring Summary Report - Meat and Alternative Dishes
• Scoring Summary Report - Mixed Entrees, Sandwiches, Wraps, Pitas, Burgers, and Pizza
• Scoring Summary Report - Salad, Vegetables, and Fruit Dishes
• Scoring Summary Report - Side Dishes
• Scoring Summary Report - Side Sauces and Dips
• Scoring Summary Report - Soup

Resources to Support the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools

These resources provide information to support implementation of the Guidelines in British Columbia schools.

Brand Name Food List

The Brand Name Food List (the List) is a tool to help British Columbians choose ready-to-eat food and beverages that meet the nutrition standards for schools and public buildings. The List scores food and beverages based on the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools and the Nutritional Guidelines for Vending Machines in B.C. Public Buildings.

• Brand Name Food List

Healthy Fundraising for Schools

This guide provides healthy fundraising ideas that meet the Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales in BC Schools. It can be used by teachers, administrators, parents and students who organize fundraising activities.

• Healthy Fundraising for Schools: A Practical Guide for Parents and Educators (PDF 2.03 MB)

Bake Better Bites: Recipes and Tips for Healthier Baked Goods

This resource contains recipes and tips for preparing healthy baked goods. This resource supports the implementation of the Guidelines for Food and Beverages Sales in BC Schools and is helpful for parents, community volunteers, school staff and students.

• Bake Better Bites: Recipes and Tips for Healthier Baked Goods (PDF 2.43 MB)

Tips and Recipes for Quantity Cooking: Nourishing Minds and Bodies

This resource includes tips on how to choose healthy recipes, substitutions to make favourite recipes healthier and a selection of delicious recipes. This resource is used to support the implementation of the Guidelines for Food and Beverages Sales in BC Schools and is helpful for people who prepare meals and snacks for schools.

• Tips and Recipes for Quantity Cooking: Nourishing Minds and Bodies (PDF 6.87 MB)

Common Cooking and Baking Conversions

Use this tool to help you change from imperial to metric measurements when scoring your recipes for freshly made foods.

• Common Cooking and Baking Conversions

School Meal and School Nutrition Program Handbook

This handbook supports school meal coordinators, school administrators, caterers, and others who are involved in providing healthy food and beverages to vulnerable students. It is based on the 2010 edition of the Guidelines.

• School Meal and School Nutrition Program Handbook (PDF 7.3 MB)

Nutritional Guidelines for Vending Machines in B.C. Public Buildings

Nutritional Guidelines for Vending Machines in B.C. Public Buildings

The Nutritional Guidelines for Vending Machines in B.C. Public Buildings aim to increase healthier food choices in vending machines. The guidelines define which prepackaged foods should be sold most, sold sometimes or not sold based on their ingredients and nutritional content. The guidelines are mandatory for vending machines in B.C. Public Buildings, such as hospitals, universities and government buildings. Other organizations with vending machines or concessions, such as municipal recreation and community centers, are strongly encouraged to adopt this standard for prepackaged food and beverages. Vendors and consumers can use the Brand Name Food List to find out how specific vending products score according to the guidelines.

• Healthier Choices in Vending Machines in BC Public Buildings Policy (PDF 1.09 MB)
• Healthier Choices in Vending Machines in BC Public Buildings: At a Glance
• Stocking Vending Machines with Healthier Prepackaged Food and Beverages

Useful Websites

Healthy Families BC

The Healthy Families BC website encourages families to work together to create healthier lives, schools, communities and workplaces for all British Columbians. The website provides practical tips on health and learning, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices.

• Healthy Families BC

Healthy Schools BC

Healthy Schools BC is a partnership of organizations working together on healthy school initiatives. The website, which is available in English and French, has a collection of healthy schools information and resources to help support the health and learning of students.

• Healthy Schools BC
• Healthy Schools BC (French)

Healthy Eating at School

Healthy Eating at School is designed to inspire and enable school communities in B.C. to take action on school nutrition policy and practices. It uses a comprehensive school health model to address issues such as healthy fundraising, the school environment, nutrition education, food at school, community partners and school nutrition policy.

• Healthy Eating at School