Food and Beverages - Making Healthy Food Accessible

Healthy Snacks at School - In the Tuck Shop

Canada's Food Guide can help you decide what to offer students at school tuck shops. Aim for at least 80% of the available tuck shop options coming from the Food Guide.

Tips For a Successful Tuck Shop:

• Sell healthy snacks (e.g., milk, 100% fruit juice) more cheaply than less nutritious ones (e.g., fruit drinks).
• Survey students and staff to ensure that appealing, tasty and healthy food favourites are available.
• Involve students in the planning and operation of the tuck shop.
• Buy in bulk at warehouse prices or use a delivery service.
• Role model to provide encouragement to students. If staff members buy healthy snacks, students will do the same.

These foods and beverages are commonly offered in tuck shops:

Grain Products	Vegetables and Fruit
Whole grain crackers	Fresh fruit
Cereal or granola bars	Canned fruit
Bread sticks	Applesauce cup
Plain packaged cookies like oatmeal, fruit bars or graham wafers	100% fruit or vegetable juice
Whole grain cereals, individual packs
Pretzels
Popcorn (low in trans fat)

Milk Products	Meat and Alternatives
Cheese strings	Unsalted nuts and seeds (check the school's policy on the availability of nuts and peanuts on school premises)
Yogurt	Tuna canned in water (with crackers)
Milk (chocolate or white)	Roasted soy beans
Yogurt drinks or tubes

Water is also a great, healthy choice!

If you have any questions about a food or beverage product, contact The Region of Peel-Public Health at (905)-799-7700 to talk to a registered dietitian or public health nurse.

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Choosing Crackers: Aim for crackers with < 5 grams of fat, < 2 grams of saturated + trans fats, and > 2 grams of fibre per serving. Some examples: Flatbread, Melba toast, Rice crackers, Rice cakes, Bread sticks, Rusks, Soda crackers, Crispbread, Triscuits™

Choosing Granola Bars: Look for granola bars that have < 4-5 grams of fat, < 2 grams of saturated + trans fats, and > 2 grams of fibre per serving. Some examples: Nature Valley Granola Bars™, Kellogg's All Bran Honey Nut Flavour Bars™

Choosing Breakfast Cereals: Look for cereals with > 4 grams of fibre and < 5 grams of sugar per serving. Some examples: Corn Bran™, Bran Flakes™, Shreddies™, Fibre 1™, Fruit and Fibre™, Mini Wheats™, Shredded Wheat™, Oat Squares™, Weetabix™

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Source: Brant County Health Unit. Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment. A Resource for School Decision Makers, 2005.