Selling Good Nutrition

PDF of Factsheet Selling Good Nutrition

This page was reviewed or revised on Thursday, April 19, 2007.

School budgets are tight so that means most schools must hold fundraising events for special projects. However, many of the common money-making plans are opposite of the healthy eating lessons children are taught in school. 

So, when it comes time for the next school fundraiser, choose one that supports the healthy message taught in school.

Getting Started

If you are having a little trouble deciding what product is best for your school’s fundraising event, or if you need a company that supplies the item you want to sell, start with the Canadian fundraising directory: http://www.canadianfundraising.com/

Healthy food choices

It's possible to be successful without chocolate. Click here for some ideas to get you started:  PDF of Factsheet - Selling Good Nutrition

Inside the school

Schools must support good nutrition or it will be easy for children to become confused by different health messages.  So any fundraising events inside the school should support healthy food choices.

Vending machines

How can children make healthy choices if pop, chips and chocolate bars are the only items offered in schools’ vending machines?  Supply some nutritious choices such as juice, milk, cereal bars and pretzels.

Special lunch days

Hot dogs and pizza are often served on special lunch days because they are easy. In order to provide a balanced meal, these higher-fat items should be matched with healthy foods. Instead of serving a hot dog, chips and pop, have milk and fresh fruit and vegetables for the children. Remember, pop is a treat and it should never be sold for lunch. It offers few nutrients and replaces healthier drinks such as milk or juice.

You can spice up the traditional hot dog or pizza day with healthier choices: sub day or pita sandwiches (offer whole grain breads, leaner meats and limit high-fat sauces and oils).  Offer soups and chilli with the sandwiches or on their own.

Pizza days: Best choice

No extra cheese; ham instead of pepperoni or bacon, load up on veggies.

Sub sandwiches: Best choice

Whole wheat buns, plenty of veggies, limit the mayo and special sauce, choose ham, turkey, roast beef most often.

Soups: Best choice

Vegetable soups with lots of vegetables for fibre, dried beans for protein, pasta/rice for extra grains, cream soups made with milk.  Serve with whole wheat rolls.

Word about hot dogs

All meat-based hot dogs are high in fat, sodium and nitrates.  The protein level is low, making hot dogs a poor nutritional choice.

Snack shacks

Starting a school Snack Shack is a great way to make healthy foods available to students. This has been done with great success at other schools in the Lambton. It can be easy to make the idea work at your school too.  Snack Shacks provide an option to chips, pop and chocolate bars.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Bits & Bites

• Cereal bars

• Fruit cups/pudding cups

• Low-fat muffins

• Mini rice cakes

• Popcorn

• Pre-packaged cheese and crackers

• Bottled water (try flavoured too)

• Cookies (oatmeal, Arrowroot)

• Juice boxes (real fruit juice)

• Milk boxes

• Nuts and seeds

• Pretzels

• Trail mix

Milk program

Many children are not consuming enough calcium to meet their body’s needs.  Dairy Farmers of Ontario provide a school milk program that promotes milk consumption, so children get enough calcium to build strong bones and teeth. For more information, visit www.milk.org/esmp.

Non-food items

Don’t limit your fundraising to food. You can sell anything from candles, magazine subscriptions to plastic wrap. Click here for some less traditional ideas to think about.  PDF of Factsheet - Selling Good Nutrition

Additional Information

For more information on healthy eating, refer to our Nutrition pages or call Community Health Services Department at 519 383-8331 or 1-800-667-1839.