Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 01/02) - It was a tough day for junk food at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school Jan. 23.

"No junk food day" was declared, and consequently the usual candy bars, chips and pop took second seat to healthy snacks.

"It has never happened here before," explained Lisa Rettman, dental therapist with the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board.

"I handed out vegetables and fruit juices."

Rettman pointed out it's hard to resist snacking today.

"Snacks are constantly being advertised on television. They are the first thing you see when you go into the grocery store," Rettman said.

"For many people, snacking has become a way of life and, for some children, snacks often replace breakfast.

"Unfortunately, if foods high in sugar and fat and low in other essential nutrients become the favourite snacks, this can upset the body's balance."

Too much sugar can cause tooth decay, Rettman used as an example.

"High calorie snacks may lead to weight gain and a number of health problems, especially in later life," she said.

"To avoid some of these health problems, people are now looking for more nutritious snacks -- that is, snacks which provide the greatest number of nutrients and the least number of calories."

For instance, meat, fish and eggs are a good source of zinc, which is necessary for people to have normal taste.

Many classes held activities to go along with "No junk food day."

They include the kindergarten classes taught by Sandra Ipana, Marlene Hynes, Janice Beland and Jane Dale, as well as the Grade 1 classes taught by Ruby Blake, Cathi Ross and Susan Brocklehurst.

Also taking part were the Grade 2 classes taught by Keri Pinsent, Victoria Bodnar and Lorna Storr.

Grade 3 classes taught by Mary Ellen Binder, Isabel MacIsaac and Jayson Dayman also took part.

Jennifer MacDonald's 4B class and Margaret Gordon's 4C/5C class took part.

Also involved were Neil MacLellan's and Alisha Mortensen's Grade 5 classes, as well as Gerald Woolridge's and Maurice Randell's Grade 6 classes.

Rettman said she hopes there will be another "No junk food day" in the future.