Lunch Supervision
The Calgary Board of Education provides students with the option to stay at school for lunch. Lunch Supervision is offered to all students in Grades 1- 6 and in our full-day kindergarten programs for an annual fee. More information on our Lunch Supervision page.
Healthy Food Choices
We encourage healthy food choices and recommend that students drink water while at school. We encourage students to bring a water bottle (labelled with their name) each day and to take the bottle home each evening for washing. We also encourage students to make healthy snack and lunch choices and discourage them from bringing candy and high sugar foods to school.
We provide a snack break in the morning and the afternoon so please think about how you will help your child understand what is for lunch and what would be a good snack. We will return all uneaten food so that parents are aware of how much the child has eaten in a day.
Be Allergy Aware
We have come to appreciate that a significant number of our students live with allergies and food intolerances, some of which are life-threatening (e.g. nuts). As a result, we ask that students do not share food so that each family can control their own child’s food intake and as a school, we can support each child’s safety. Our staff is trained in how to respond in case of an allergic reaction and we would also ask for parent support. Please assist us by:
- Helping your child understand the discomfort and potentially life threatening nature of allergies.
- Avoiding sending nuts, and nut products such as Nutella, to school. Parents will be notified if other foods are identified as life threatening for our students.
- Emphasizing the importance of only eating foods sent from your home.
We would also ask that families do not send birthday cakes or snacks to school for sharing. Instead, teachers may arrange for small celebrations, which may include food, at meaningful points in the year. When this occurs, teachers will notify parents and ensure that the focus is on healthy choices and that every child can participate in some way. Thank you for helping us ensure “healthy bodies and healthy minds.”
For more information about allergies and/or other health concerns see our Illness & Medical page.
Home-Packed Lunch Tips for Parents
Lunch is an important part of your child’s day at school. Here are some tips to help you provide a lunch that is safe and nutritious with less waste.
Food Safety
- Keep cold food cold by using an insulated lunch bag and 1-2 ice packs.
- Keep hot food hot by using an insulated container. Preheat your container with boiling water before adding hot food. Microwave ovens are not available for elementary students.
- Pack non-perishables, such as granola bars and whole fruit, that can be kept at room temperature.
- Most CBE schools are nut-aware, please check with your child’s teacher for more information on nut allergies and other allergies in your child’s classroom.
Help Reduce Waste
- Bring a reusable water bottle.
- Pack just enough for a child to eat during lunch.
- Many schools participate in “boomerang lunches” (pack in/pack out), where all leftover items are returned home.
Tip: Pack a sealable bag or container labeled ‘garbage’ for uneaten food or open containers to avoid mess in the lunch bag.
In 2024, ten CBE schools participated in a waste audit conducted by Green Calgary. Here are a few suggestions from the audit to help minimize waste produced by packed lunches:
- Send less selections of food. Younger children have difficulty deciding what to eat when there is a lot of choice and sometimes end up not eating.
- When possible, use reusable containers for foods such as crackers and cut up fruits or vegetables.
Other Tips
- Make sure your child can open all packages by themselves.
- Involve your child in packing their lunch. Children involved in food preparation may be more likely to try new foods and eat what is packed, minimizing food waste.
- Aim to include a food from each food group – lean proteins, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily (as per Canada’s Food Guide 2019).
- Some items, such as sandwiches, can be made ahead and frozen to save time. Note that some fillings such as fresh vegetables do not freeze well.
- Designate a shelf in the fridge/pantry at home for lunch items. This may help make packing lunches quicker and encourage independence for children packing their own lunches.
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