Why the Salad Bar?

Background on the Salad Bar project

To advocates for children and nutrition, no good idea is overlooked and no great idea is left untried. In 2001 Debbie Field, Executive Director of FoodShare, was invited to ‘A Taste of Justice’ Conference in Los Angeles and had the opportunity to visit a Farmers’ Market Fresh Fruit and Salad Bar in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. In these schools, children had the choice of a regular cafeteria-style lunch, bring your own, or to eat from the salad bar offering a number of selections in four food groups—fruits, vegetables, grains and meats and alternatives.

Statistics gathered from these programs showed that the salad bar was becoming the meal of choice for a significant number of students. Students were actually choosing to eat more fruits and vegetables—they were making the healthier choice when they were given a choice! What Debbie saw and heard prompted the taking of many pictures and rushing home to share the marvel with her colleagues. And of course the question was asked, “How can we make this happen here?”

In the meantime, Halima Aman of Canadian Feed the Children had also heard of the wonderful success of the Farmer’s Market Salad Bar concept through contacts in the United States. Halima was in the ‘concept paper’ stages when she heard of Debbie’s adventure and her quest to see the same concept become reality in Toronto schools.

Add into the mix the Toronto Partners for Student Nutrition, a determined partnership was formed, and the concept became reality in less than six months in two primary schools in downtown Toronto— on May 16th, 2002 the Salad Bar Pilot began at Bruce Public School and St Paul’s Catholic School. And that was just the beginning. The Salad Bar Pilot, now into Phase II, has been introduced in nine other schools with another four in September 2003! 2004 will bring the ‘Roll Out’ phase where we are hoping to reach another 15 schools.

The fantastic news about this program is that students of all ages are surprising many by trying new things, making healthy choices and simply enjoying the opportunity to eat healthy foods.

Goals and objectives of Salad Bar Program

To offer an affordable healthy lunch alternative to student by:

• Providing a variety of fresh, healthy food choices, the main focus on increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Purchasing these fresh fruits and vegetables locally where possible.

• Giving students an opportunity to experience new foods.

• Providing the opportunity for students to make healthy choices by choosing their own lunch and in turn the quantity of lunch that is right for them.

• Presenting this lunch alternative in a ‘Kid Friendly’ salad bar unit.

Thanks to our Salad Bar sponsor: