Families In Greater Sudbury Choose to Boost Veggies And Fruit

Healthy Kids Community Challenge Launches Healthier Eating Initiative

Whether fresh, frozen or canned, fruits and vegetables help provide children and families with the vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and overall energy needed to be physically active.Greater Sudbury is launching the Choose to Boost Veggies and Fruit initiative to encourage kids and families to eat healthier and to make vegetables and fruits part of their everyday lives.

Local programs and activities will encourage families in Greater Sudbury to include more fruit and vegetables in every meal and snack. Upcoming events include:

  • Community Gardening program for elementary students
  • “Super snackables” animators who will visit local events and schools
  • Pop-up vegetable and fruit markets in targeted neighbourhoods
  • Food skills programming for kids and their families

Choose to Boost Veggies and Fruit is the next phase of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, which promotes healthy eating, physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices for children. As part of the first phase, Run, Jump, Play, Every Day., Greater Sudbury introduced physical activity programming to 2800 local children. As part of the second phase, Water Does Wonders, Healthy Kids Greater Sudbury installed water fountains throughout the community and helped families, organizations and sports teams to make the switch from sugary drinks to water.

Encouraging kids to stay active and healthy is part of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care; better home and community care; the information they need to live healthy; and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.


QUOTES

“As parents, we all want to give our kids the best. When planning meals and snacks, let’s give our children the extra boost they need by including more fruits and vegetables. They’ll not only have more energy, they’ll also develop healthy habits for years to come.” 
— Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“Food preferences are set early in a child’s life. Ontario is working with the communities to improve access and availability of vegetables and fruits, and to increase children and parents’ knowledge about healthy eating and how to make it a part of their everyday lives.”
— John Fraser, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“It’s clear to me that families are ready to adopt habits that will improve their lives. The Province of Ontario is excited to collaborate with Greater Sudbury on this new theme, and I truly believe that choosing to boost veggies and fruit can help promote positive, long-term benefits for our community.”
— Glenn Thibeault, Member of Provincial Parliament, Sudbury district

“We appreciate the continued funding and support from the Government of Ontario as part of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge Greater Sudbury. With this new theme that revolves around healthy eating we have yet another opportunity to help create awareness and education that will help support the healthy development of our children.”
— Mark Signoretti, Ward 1 Councillor, City of Greater Sudbury


QUICK FACTS

  • Canada’s Food Guide recommends that children get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
  • Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruit may prevent certain types of cancer, is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, healthy weights and lower risk of obesity.
  • Greater Sudbury is among 45 communities selected to take part in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge.
  • Greater Sudbury is receiving up to $1,125,000 from Ontario to fund local community projects. 


LEARN MORE

If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact Shannon Dowling at 705-674-4455, ext. 2539.