Dartmouth High School is leading the way for Nova Scotia 's new Food and Nutrition in Nova Scotia Schools policy. Over a year ago, the school's principal, Phil Legere, along with the student council, the school's teen health clinic, and school nurse decided that pop was out, water was in, and the cafeteria would offer more healthy foods, fewer fatty ones.

Principal Legere says the inspiration came to him after attending a speech about childhood obesity by his niece, a pediatrician at the IWK Health Centre.

“I never wanted my position as a principal to be associated with having the school profiting on something that was inevitably hurting our students,” says Principal Legere.

The first step was eliminating the pop machines. The school negotiated with the beverage supplier to switch all machines to water. Then they eliminated the rule about having liquids in the hallways, so students are now permitted to consume water anywhere in the school, all day long.

Next, they negotiated with the school's food supplier to do away with specific high-fat foods, such as French fries and hot dogs. Today the cafeteria offers many more healthy choices.

It was a bit of a risk at first. Sales of pop from the machines went to support sport and recreation programs at the school. Plus, many popular fast-food restaurants are all within a short walk of Dartmouth High School . Would students simply go elsewhere for their favourite fatty foods?

In a survey one year after the change, 89 per cent of the students say they like having healthier choices. And the money from water sales has replaced the pop proceeds to support the school's programs. In fact, many students who previously didn't drink water are now sipping on this healthful, hydrating beverage.

Principal Legere is proud that Dartmouth High embraced the promotion of healthy foods and beverages in his school a year ahead of schedule for the Food and Nutrition in Nova Scotia Schools policy (to be released before the end of the school year). He believes if Dartmouth High School can make the change to healthier choices, every school in the province can do the same. We believe him.

Nova Scotia Health Promotion is proud to salute Principal Phil Legere and all the students who are making this change a success. Thanks for helping to make Nova Scotia a healthier place to live.

Healthy Eating is one of six key strategic areas Nova Scotia Health Promotion has identified and is addressing to make Nova Scotia healthier. Find out more about our other initiatives:

Addiction Prevention
Healthy Eating
Healthy Sexuality
Injury Prevention
Physical Activity, Sport & Recreation
Tobacco Control