The Food Environment

&

Food Literacy


Our food choices are shaped by the options available in our environment (the places we live, learn, work and play) and are influenced by our access to resources, social norms, and the behaviours of those around us. Because children spend a significant portion of their time at school, it is important that the school food environment is healthy and supportive so the easy choice is the healthy choice by default.

To prepare students for the complex food environment outside the school setting, food literacy is a skill that needs to be taught from a young age. Children and youth who are food literate are more likely to go on to be healthier adults because they have the knowledge, habits and essential life skills that will enable them to make healthy food choices throughout their lives.

Understanding Healthy, Supportive Food Environments and Food Literacy

The School Food and Nutrition Policy is not just about nutrient criteria. It highlights other important actions related to creating a positive food environment and enabling food literacy. The full policy can be found here.

Canada's Food Guide: Food literacy and the food environment

  • Food literacy includes food skills and practices that are learned and used across the lifespan to participate within a complex food environment. Food literacy also means considering the social, cultural, economic and physical factors related to food.

  • Healthy eating habits. Healthy eating is more than the foods you eat. It is also about where, when, why and how you eat. This section of the food guide covers food skills such as being mindful of your eating habits, cooking more often, enjoying your food, and eating meals with others. Learn more here.

  • Healthy eating at school. The food choices made at school can have an impact on a child’s overall health. Learn why healthy eating at school matters and how to plan, prepare and choose healthy school meals and snacks that everyone will enjoy. Learn more here.

  • Food skills definition can be found here.

Resources to Support Healthy Food Environments and Food Literacy

The Bright Bites website includes activities and resources for schools related to food as a reward, fundraising, celebrations, drinking water, healthier menus, cooking, gardening and more.

The Nourish Nova Scotia website includes information, videos, resources, curriculum packages, and activities related to food literacy.

Canada’s Food Guide includes information and practical tips related to healthy eating habits (where, when, why and how we eat), making water the drink of choice, healthy fundraising, and more.

Other Resources: