Yellowknife (Apr 22/05) - Junk food in vending machines is now banned in all Yellowknife Catholic schools.

The policy that passed at a regular YCS board meeting Wednesday night arrived as a bit of an afterthought, because all three schools in the district already have healthy food initiatives.

Weledeh Catholic school parents pulled pop, chips and chocolate bar machines from the school in 2002, leaving only one machine that dispenses water, juice and an energy drink.

At Ecole St. Joseph, students can pop their toonies in the machine for juice or water. The canteen sells cheese and crackers, yogurt, fruit and granola bars.

The parents advisory committee at St. Pat's replaced junk food in machines with healthy choices before classes resumed last fall.

The motion that passed unanimously at the meeting called to adopt "a policy that no foods or beverages with minimal nutritional value will be available for sale in vending machines at any school in the district during regular school hours."

"The issue of children and health is becoming prevalent," said chairperson Shannon Gullberg, who compares the food issue to smoking.

Ellie Sasseville, chairperson of the Weledeh parents advisory committee, worried that hot dog lunches and meals served to students in the Breakfast for Learning program might be adversely affected by the ban.

"Hotdogs are not one of the better choices, but occasionally and in moderation are acceptable," she said after the meeting.

After assurances from trustee Mary Vane that the ban only covers vending machine contents for now, Sasseville walked away pleased.

"We have lots of programs in place at Weledeh. We are doing lots of things to promote healthy eating in children," she said.

Elementary students are working on a healthy foods cookbook at Weledeh, and both elementary schools offer life skills classes that include teaching kids to prepare nutritious food. The next step for the district is to meet with a dietician and parents to determine what is healthy food.

Where it leads from there is still undetermined, says Gullberg.

"It's not just the food. It's how do we create the healthiest environment for our students," she says.

The new policy may lead the district to examine activity levels in its students as well, though that is down the road, says Gullberg.