By making foods and beverages from Canada’s food guide available through canteens, team snacks, and celebrations, sports leagues can:
League food and beverage guidelines |
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Team snacks |
If your league would like to receive reusable water bottles, colouring pages, participation certificates, or printed resources to support the Challenge, please call the Living Well Line at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Canteens |
If your sports league operates a canteen, consider offering: For snacks:
For meals:
For beverages:
If your league does not operate the canteen where you play, ask the vendor to offer choices from Canada’s food guide, to help athletes fuel to play and recover. Canteen operators interested in more information can speak with a Registered Dietitian at KFL&A Public Health by calling Living Well at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Barbecues and celebrations |
Celebrations like end-of-year parties can be great team-building and social experiences. Include foods and beverages from Canada’s food guide to give everyone lasting energy. If offering a snack, consider:
If offering a meal, consider:
If you would like more information, please call the Living Well Line at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Sponsorships and advertising |
Health Canada recommends limiting children’s exposure to food marketing. Food and beverage marketing can greatly influence children’s food preferences, purchase requests and choices. Sports-related food marketing can occur through a variety of ways, including:
To limit children’s exposure to food and beverage marketing, consider requesting local non-food businesses to act as team sponsors. If businesses cannot provide a financial contribution, they could consider offering a small discount on their product or service to league members. If food and beverage companies want to act as a sponsor, ask if they can contribute financially without your league displaying their logo (for instance, on players’ shirts). Instead, show appreciation for these contributions in an e-mail to parents. |
Fundraising |
Many fundraisers involve selling foods that are not recommended by Canada’s food guide, contradicting the healthy eating messages that children learn at school and home. Use your fundraisers as an opportunity to model healthy eating through words and actions by selling whole fruit, cheese or dried pasta. You could also plan a fundraiser that does not involve food, such as:
|
League food and beverage guidelines |
For a printed copy of the guidelines, or for help with developing food and beverage guidelines for your league, please call the Living Well Line at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Team snacks |
If your team would like to receive reusable water bottles, colouring pages, participation certificates, or printed resources to support the Challenge, please call the Living Well Line at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Canteens |
If there is a canteen where your team plays, consider asking the operator to provide options from Canada’s food guide. For snacks:
For meals:
For beverages:
Canteen operators looking for more information can speak with a Registered Dietitian at KFL&A Public Health by calling Living Well at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Barbecues and celebrations |
Celebrations like end-of-year parties can be great team-building and social experiences. Include foods and beverages from Canada’s food guide to provide everyone with lasting energy. If offering a snack, consider:
If offering a meal, consider:
If you would like help in planning your league’s barbecue or celebration menu, please call the Living Well Line 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Team and player rewards |
Offer non-food rewards for a game well-played such as:
|
Sponsorships and Advertising |
Health Canada recommends limiting children’s exposure to food marketing. Food and beverage marketing can greatly influence children’s food preferences, purchase requests and choices. Sports-related food marketing can occur through a variety of ways, including:
To limit children’s exposure to food and beverage marketing, consider requesting local non-food businesses to act as team sponsors. If businesses cannot provide a financial contribution, they could consider offering a small discount on their product or service to league members. If food and beverage companies want to act as a sponsor, ask if they can contribute financially without your league displaying their logo (for instance, on players’ shirts). Instead, show appreciation for these contributions in an e-mail to parents. |
Fundraising |
Many fundraisers involve selling foods that are not recommended by Canada’s food guide, contradicting the healthy eating messages that children learn at school and home. Use your fundraisers as an opportunity to model healthy eating through words and actions by selling whole fruit, cheese or dried pasta. You could also plan a fundraiser that does not involve food, such as:
|
League food and beverage guidelines |
|
Team snacks |
Help bring veggies, fruit, and water, to the sidelines instead of sugary snacks and drinks, by participating in the Super Snacks Challenge! If team snacks are offered, offer only fruit and vegetables, with water for your child to hydrate. Simple fruit and vegetables snack ideas include:
If your team or league would like to receive reusable water bottles, colouring pages, participation certificates, or printed resources to support the Challenge, please call the Living Well Line at 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Canteens |
|
Barbecues and celebrations |
Celebrations like end-of-year parties can be great team-building and social experiences.
Include foods and beverages from Canada’s food guide to provide everyone with lasting energy. If offering a snack, consider:
If offering a meal, consider:
If you would like help in planning your team's barbecue or celebration menu, please call the Living Well Line 613-549-1232 ext. 1180. |
Rewards |
Offering food as a reward can lead children to develop an unhealthy relationship with food. Offer non-food rewards for a game well-played such as:
|