Aline Easton, Supervisor, Chartwells School of Dining at St. Charles College proudly
displays the Eat Smart! award presented to the ladies in the cafeteria
by the Sudbury & District Health Unit. The Eat Smart! School Cafeteria
program was adopted by St. Charles College to encourage healthy food choices and
safe food handling. Data shows that in Canada, approximately one million people
become ill from food borne disease annually and research completed by the National
Institute of Canada indicates that food poisoning is the top food concern of Canadians.
According to Easton, “The original Eat Smart Restaurant Program has become
recognized throughout Ontario and with the addition of our Eat Smart School Cafeteria
we are able to provide the same program to our students and younger members of
the community. Establishing healthy eating habits in childhood and adolescence
helps to ensure normal growth and development. Today we know that nutrition is
crucial in the prevention of many conditions that effect health in both the short
and long term.”

Nutritional statistics that favour the adoption of the Eat Smart Program include

• Nearly 40% of youth ages 12 to 19 years have less than 4 servings of
  fruit and vegetables per day
• From 1989 to 1998 the proportion of students who eat fruit and
  vegetables daily has declined
• From grade 6 to grade 12 the percentage of students drinking caffeinated
  soft drinks daily has increased from 47% to over 60%
• 9 out of 10 teenagers consume a diet too high in fat
• 8 out of 10 teens do not get enough calories from carbohydrates
• snacks consumed are high in fat and low in nutrients
• 14% of boys and 12% of girls ages 7 to 13 are obese
• between grade 6 and grade 10, the percentage of females dieting to lose
  weight increases from 28% to 50%

The Eat Smart! program was designed to promote restaurants that go
the extra mile to provide a healthy menu and eating environment. Any restaurant
in Sudbury designated as an Eat Smart! restaurant offers a minimum
level of healthy choices on the menu, 100% smoke-free seating and a history
of good food safety practices. Eat Smart! is endorsed by the Canadian
Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. For more information
on the program, or to obtain a list of local restaurants participating in the
program visit the Sudbury & District Health Unit’s Health Services information page and select Eat Smart in the ‘Search by Subject’ box.