What is The Balanced School Day?

The Balanced School Day is another option to the usual
school day timetable.

• Currently, children have two, 50 minute teaching blocks, recess, another 50 minute teaching block, then lunch. In the afternoon, there is one, 50 minute teaching block, recess, and one last 50 minute teaching block.
• The Balanced School Day has one, 100 minute teaching block, a nutrition break, another 100 minute teaching block, another nutrition break, and one last 100 minute teaching block.

What are the differences between The Balanced School Day and
a traditional school day?

• Normally children eat once at lunch and during class time before recess.
• The Balanced School Day provides two, 40 minute nutrition breaks. Children who go home for lunch can do so at the second nutrition break.
• The nutrition breaks are longer than regular recess, so there's more time to eat and play. Some schools have recess first, then the nutrition break. Children are more focused on eating their lunch and aren't anxious about losing play time when recess comes first.
• The start and end times of the school day remain the same.

 
What are the benefits of The Balanced School Day?

Academic benefits include:

• Students pay attention better during lessons.
• There's more time to teach reading and math. This supports the Ontario Ministry of Education's recommendation.
• There's more teaching time and less time is lost when changing from class to class.
• There's greater opportunity for guest speakers.

Non-academic benefits include:

• Students are more likely to finish all their lunch when they have more time to eat.
• Children spend less time getting ready to go outside in the winter, giving them more time to play.
• Less garbage around the playground to attract insects like bees.
• Improved student behaviour.
• Less unstructured time for students.

Feeding Your Child on The Balanced School Day

Children need to eat the same amount of food on The Balanced School Day as in the regular school timetable. The time when the food is eaten is different. Children need two small meals, one for each nutrition break. A four-week menu to help plan your child's mini-lunches is provided by following the link at the bottom of the page.

More Tips:

• Buy reusable containers and label them #1 and #2 with a marker, to help young children know what to eat at each nutrition break.
• Cut sandwiches in two and use one half for each nutrition break.
• Preheat a thermos with hot water; pour out the water, then immediately fill with reheated food. Pack just before your child leaves for school. The food will be hotter and taste better if eaten at the first break.
• For cold food, pack an ice pack, or put a frozen drink that will thaw by the first break with the meal.
• Include a healthy drink for each break. Water, white or chocolate milk, soy beverage, or 100% fruit juice are good choices. Note: fruit drinks, punches, and cocktails are mostly sugar and water. Sport drinks are also high in sugar.

Make Before:

• Bake double batches of muffins and freeze some to put in lunches.
• Make large batches of one-pot dishes like soup, casserole, and stew, and freeze in single-serviing microwave-safe dishes. Thaw needed portions overnight in the fridge, reheat to piping hot in the morning, and spoon into a pre-heated thermos.
• Cut extra raw vegetables when making stir-fry dishes and use them for mini-meals the next day.

How Will I know if My Child is Getting Enough Food?

Ask them!

• A healthy, active child's appetite is your best guide for knowing how much food to pack.
• Younger children need smaller portion sizes.
• If your child tells you he's hungry after eating his mini-meals, pack more whole grain products, vegetables, and fruit.
• Ask your child to bring leftovers home instead of throwing them out at school. This will help you know what's being eaten.

Check Out The Balanced School Day Menu Ideas