When it comes to the recreation sector, it can be a challenge to find healthier foods in snack bars or vending machines.
The Eat Smart! Recreation Centre Program is taking a step forward in creating environments where making healthier food choices will be easier.
Nutrition Criteria for the Eat Smart! Recreation Centre Pilot Program
At a recreation center, an Eat Smart! choice is a healthier choice in vending machines or snack bars. Eat Smart! choices meet specific nutrition criteria that make them healthier choices.
1. Packaged Foods
The nutrition criteria used to rate packaged foods found in vending machines and snack bars are based on recommendations in Canada's Food Guide. The Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient list, and package size are used to assess food products.
| Food Group |
Nutrition Criteria (per package) |
Examples of Eat Smart! choices |
| Vegetables and Fruit |
- The first ingredient is a vegetable or fruit
- Container size for juice is 360mL or less
- Fruit juice must be 100% juice
- There is no more than 480mg of sodium
- Vegetable or fruit “chips” are graded on the amount of fat, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, fibre and iron they contain; they must contain zero trans fat to be an Eat Smart! choice
|
- Any fresh fruit or vegetable
- Fruit canned in 100% juice
- Unsweetened fruit purees
- 100% fruit or vegetable leathers
- Some types of dried fruit
- 100% fruit juice
- Low sodium vegetable cocktail
- Some varieties of vegetable or fruit chips
|
| Grain Products |
- Products are graded on the amount of fat, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, fibre and iron they contain
- Products contain zero trans fat
|
- Some varieties of granola and cereal bars
- Some varieties of pretzels, popcorn, pita chips
- Some varieties of crackers, rice cakes
- Some varieties of cold breakfast cereals
|
| Milk and Alternatives |
- Container size for milk and soy beverages no larger than 500mL
- Container size for milkshakes no larger than 360mL
- Fluid milk, soy beverages and milkshakes contain at least 25% of the Daily Value for calcium, at least 40% of the Daily Value for vitamin D and no more than 28g sugars per 250mL
- Cheese contains at least 10% DV for calcium and no more than 20% milk fat (processed cheese slices or spreads are not Eat Smart! choices)
- Yogurt, yogurt drinks, puddings and cottage cheese contain at least 10% of the Daily Value for calcium and no more than 16g sugar per 100g container
|
- White and chocolate milk with 2% MF or less
- Chocolate or vanilla soy beverage
- Yogurt, plain and flavored with 2% MF or less
- Yogurt drinks
- Some varieties of pudding cups
- Hard cheese with 20% MF or less
|
| Meat and Alternatives, Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes |
- Products contain no more than 480mg of sodium
- Added sugar is not in one of first three ingredients and is low in added sugar
|
- Plain nuts, soy nuts
- Seeds
- Canned fish
- Some varieties of bars with nuts as first ingredient
|
| Mixed Foods (contain more than one food group) |
- Products are graded on the amount of fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, fibre, protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and D they contain
|
- Some varieties of sandwiches
- Some varieties of microwavable entrées
- Some soups
|
2. Non-packaged Foods
The nutrition criteria used to rate non-packaged foods available in snack bars are based on recommendations in Canada's Food Guide. Foods are prepared and/or served in a healthier way.
Healthier preparation methods include: baking, broiling, grilling, steaming, roasting, and toasting. Foods that are deep fried, or prepared and served with cream, high-fat cheese, or other high-fat toppings, sauces or dressing are excluded. Higher fat spreads, dressings or dips may come with Eat Smart! choices, but must be served on the side so the customer can control the amount used.
| Food Group |
Nutrition Criteria |
Examples of Eat Smart! choices
(may be ingredients in other food products) |
| Vegetables and Fruit |
- Vegetables and fruit are prepared with little or no added fat, sugar or salt
- 100% fruit juice or low-sodium vegetable cocktail may be counted as one of the two Vegetable and Fruit choices required in Snack Bars
|
- Leafy green salad
- Whole pieces of fruit, such as apples or pears
- Fruit cocktail packed in juice or light syrup
- Fresh veggies served with dip
- Baked potato
- Cooked vegetables (in soup or chilli)
- Fresh vegetables (in sandwiches or wraps)
- Broth-based vegetable soup
|
| Grain Products |
- Grain products are prepared with little or no added fat, sugar or salt
- At least one whole wheat or whole grain product is available
- If bread products are available, there is an option for whole wheat or whole grain
|
- Bread
- English muffins
- Bagels
- Buns
- Pasta or rice
- Air-popped popcorn
|
| Milk and Alternatives |
- Milk and Alternatives are lower in fat or fat-free
|
- Hard cheese with no more than 20% MF
- Yogurt with 2% MF or less
|
| Meat and Alternatives |
- Meats are lean
- Meat and Alternatives are prepared with little or no added fat or salt
|
- Lean deli meat or ground meat
- Some types of veggie burgers
- Eggs
- Fish
- Nut butters
- Dry roasted nuts and seeds or mixtures
|
Requirements for the Eat Smart Recreation Centre Pilot Program
At least ¼ or 25% of the choices in participating vending machines are healthier choices. The healthier choices are labelled with the Eat Smart! symbol.
Participating recreation centre snack bars:
- offer at least two Eat Smart! choices (either packaged or non-packaged)from each of the four food groups at all times
- share ingredient/nutrition information on non-packaged foods upon request
- provide water (tap and/or bottled) at all times
