Moncton schools move to healthier cafeteria menus

Most of the 15,000students in the Anglophone East School District have healthier choices at school cafeterias this fall.

The district has adopted a new food policy at 25 schools, following the success of a two-year program at francophone schools.

Fresh produceand other foodis being delivered from local farmers and food producers, socafeteria staff can use it to prepare meals on site.

At EdithCavellSchool inMoncton, students in kindergarten to Grade 8have had access to the healthier menu for about three weeks.

I think it was long overdue.- Donna Arsenault, principal atEdith Cavell School

NolanFougere-Richardson, 8,was first in line Mondayto buy some homemadelasagneand fresh green salad.

"I lovelasagneand it has protein in it," saidFougere-Richardson.

DonnaArsenault, the school's principal,says teachers and students are impressed with the healthier options on the new menu.

She said the change was "long overdue."

"Years ago I would eat at [the]cafeteria myself, but stopped eating at our cafeteria a few years ago," she said.

"It wasprepackaged, sodium-enriched foodsand I just didn't think it was healthy for me. Since this new menu came out,I amchanging my lunch habits and eating inour school cafeteria."

Arsenaultsays she isn't sure how many students in her school will be buying the new food choices.

EdithCavell has studentsfrom many low-income families soa $5 lunch is a treat for some of these children,as opposed to a daily choice, according to the principal.

Arsenaultsays sheexpects to hear feedback from parents at a school meeting on Tuesday night.