Choose Most Often Category:

• These foods should be consumed daily and in appropriate amounts and portion sizes, based on age category.
• These foods are all recommended as healthy choices in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide.
• Examples include:
• • all fresh, frozen and canned vegetables (no or low sodium/slat as per criteria)
• • all fresh, frozen and canned fruit (no sugar added)
• • whole grain breads and pastas
• • skim, 1% and 2% milk and unflavoured, fortified soy beverages
• • all lean meats, poultry and fish – baked, broiled, boiled, poached or roasted
• • all legumes, nuts and seeds

Choose Sometimes Category:

• Foods in the Choose Sometimes category may still provide beneficial nutrients, but they tend to be higher in added sugar, unhealthy fat and sodium (salt).
• No more than three servings from the Choose Sometimes category are recommended for consumption per week.
• Examples Include:
• • fresh, frozen or canned vegetables with added sodium/salt or sauces and fruit
• with added sugar
• • French fries baked from fresh or frozen potatoes (not battered or coated)
• • whole grain products with some added fat or sugar
• • all meats, poultry and fish – baked, broiled, boiled, poached or roasted with added
• sauces or coating
• • luncheon meats and sausages; beef jerky
• • nuts and seeds with added salt or coating
• • skim, 1% and 2% flavoured milk products (chocolate milk)

Choose Least Often:

• Eating these foods is not recommended.
• One serving can be eaten once a week. Portions of energy-dense, nutrient poor foods should
• represent only a small portion of total energy intake.
• Examples include:
• • cakes and pastries
• • chocolate and candies
• • cookies, doughnuts, muffins
• • ice cream
• • deep fried French fries
• • chips
• • fruit-flavoured drinks, pop, energy drinks, sports drinks, chocolate bar milks

Beverages:

• Promote the consumption of water to quench thirst

and provide adequate hydration.

• Provide access to refrigerated milk, fortified soy

beverages and 100% vegetable and fruit juices.

• Avoid beverages such as:

– Pop and iced tea

– Sports drinks

– Diet beverages

– Fruit punches, drinks and beverages ending in “-ade”

– Caffeinated beverages

Categories & Criteria:

• Each of the food rating system categories are divided

into:

– the 4 food groups from Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide; and

– mixed dishes.

• Criteria is provided specific to each category including:

–serving size

–fat

–sodium

– sugar

– protein

– fibre

Taken directly and/or adapted from: Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth, Alberta Health and Wellness – Public Health Division, Healthy Living Branch (October 2010) and www.healthyalberta.ca

Here is the link to FMCSD - Apple Schools information:

https://fmcschools.ca/apple-schools/

Here is the link to the Provincial Apple Schools information:

http://www.appleschools.ca/