This Alliance includes interested individuals and representatives of government and non-government groups. Over the next three years, the Healthy Eating Alliance will work together to promote healthy eating behaviours for Island children and youth through a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy. Since the school years are an ideal time to develop healthy habits, the Alliance has chosen to start with the school-age population as its initial target group.

The Strategy outlines three main action areas to improve children's eating habits: 1) nutrition education and promotion; 2) access to safe and healthy food; and 3) research. Working groups will be involved in various activities, such as developing newsletters, presentations and information kits for parents, teachers, and community organizations. The PEI Healthy Eating Alliance will also work to increase the availability of healthy food choices in places where children gather, such as schools and recreation centres.

"One of the major health issues facing children today is childhood obesity, and we're glad to have the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance and the Active Living Alliance working with us in this concerted and comprehensive approach to improve children's eating habits and activity levels," said Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem. "By reducing childhood obesity, we can improve the quality of life for children and reduce the high rates of chronic disease that many Islanders develop later in life such as diabetes, heart disease and depression."

Education Minister Chester Gillan advised that there is a strong link between diet and school performance. "When food intake is adequate, children have more energy and are better able to focus on learning. As a result, children show improved classroom behaviour. We hope that through the Strategy, we will begin to see an improvement in the overall health of our children and help them to meet their full potential," stated Minister Gillan.

Dr. Jennifer Taylor, of the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences at UPEI and co-chair of the Healthy Eating Alliance, says that childrens' eating habits have a significant impact on many aspects of their current and future health. "Childhood obesity is a major health issue in Canada, and research tells us that poor eating habits in childhood increase the risk of obesity and chronic disease and often persist into adulthood," she said. "Both the foods children eat and their physical activity levels have been identified as important risk factors which are modifiable. On the positive side, children who eat a healthy breakfast and who have good eating habits, have a better chance in school."

Taylor's research has shown that Island school children do not consume enough fruits, vegetables or milk and they have a significant number have high-fat snacks and soft drinks on a daily basis. Moreover, many do not eat breakfast on a daily basis. As co-chair of the Alliance, she says, "We will be working with schools, parents and communities to address some of these challenges related to healthy eating among our children and youth."

For copies of the Strategy, contact Island Information Services or visit the Government website www.gov.pe.ca.

Backgrounder

PEI Healthy Eating Strategy

What is the purpose of the Healthy Eating Strategy?

The purpose of the strategy is to improve the current eating behaviours of our Island children and youth through nutrition education and promotion and by creating supportive environments for healthy eating.

Who is the Healthy Eating Alliance?

The implementation of the Strategy will be led by the Alliance. The Healthy Eating Alliance is a multi-sectoral group comprised of individuals from various government departments, community organizations, and university faculties. It includes professionals from all disciplines and interested people from all sectors across PEI who share in the concern for children's health.

The PEI Healthy Eating Alliance formed following a workshop held in May of 2001 on Achieving Healthy Weights in Children. The workshop focused on activity, diet and healthy lifestyles and on the long-term effects of obesity on health, most importantly the increased risk for chronic disease. A small group of individuals had formed who were interested in addressing eating behaviours and this group eventually became the Steering Committee of the greater PEI Healthy Eating Alliance. The Healthy Eating Alliance has two working groups, the Nutrition Education and Promotion group and the Access to Safe and Healthy Foods group.

Who will benefit from the strategy?

This Strategy will benefit Island children and youth between the ages of 6 to 18. This initial focus is on school-age children because we know that eating patterns are established early in life and that obesity tracks into adulthood. Children spend a significant amount of their time in school and what children see and do at school can be a great source of influence in their lives. By focusing on children during these habit-forming years in an environment that has the potential to be health promoting, we can make a difference in the choices they make about their health and lifestyle.

The Strategy will also benefit parents and teachers who have the most opportunity to teach children about healthy eating and act as role models.

How will the work of the strategy be carried out?

The individuals involved are committed to improving the health of young Islanders. Each of the working groups have developed action plans through a collaborative process and will work as partners to implement the action items in each of the plans. Much of the work will be centred in the school setting and will focus on empowering children to make their own healthy choices by making them more available.