Lunch Supervision
All lunchroom students must register for the lunch supervision program. Register through MyCBE or in the School office. More information on our Lunch Supervision page.
Food Preparation Notice
Lunch supervisors are not able to provide boiling water for soups and drinks. Consider preparing your child’s hot foods and drinks at home and use an insulated flask to keep them warm until noon hour.
Food Sharing Not Advisable
Historically, students have marked special events by bringing in treats to share with peers. Over the last few years this practice has come under scrutiny for a variety of reasons: food allergies, healthy food initiatives and parental concerns about food sharing to name a few. For these reasons, we respectfully advise all parents that we can no longer distribute
food items to classmates. In those rare occasions when students do bring food for sharing teachers will instruct students to take it home. This can be awkward and disappointing for students. If you have any questions related to this matter please speak with your child’s teacher.
Allergies
We are a peanut free school. Please do not send peanuts/peanut products to school with your child. Learn more about Allergies.
Fun Lunches
You've been asked to order your Fun Lunches online... now what?
Go to www.healthyhunger.ca and register. After your account is created, you will be able to view all upcoming Fun Lunches, place orders and pay for them online with Visa, MasterCard or Interac Debit.
Home-Packed Lunch Tips for Parents
Lunch is an important part of your child’s day at school. Here are some tips to help you provide a lunch that is safe and nutritious with less waste.
Food Safety
- Keep cold food cold by using an insulated lunch bag and 1-2 ice packs.
- Keep hot food hot by using an insulated container. Preheat your container with boiling water before adding hot food. Microwave ovens are not available for elementary students.
- Pack non-perishables, such as granola bars and whole fruit, that can be kept at room temperature.
- Most CBE schools are nut-aware, please check with your child’s teacher for more information on nut allergies and other allergies in your child’s classroom.
Help Reduce Waste
- Bring a reusable water bottle.
- Pack just enough for a child to eat during lunch.
- Many schools participate in “boomerang lunches” (pack in/pack out), where all leftover items are returned home.
Tip: Pack a sealable bag or container labeled ‘garbage’ for uneaten food or open containers to avoid mess in the lunch bag.
In 2024, ten CBE schools participated in a waste audit conducted by Green Calgary. Here are a few suggestions from the audit to help minimize waste produced by packed lunches:
- Send less selections of food. Younger children have difficulty deciding what to eat when there is a lot of choice and sometimes end up not eating.
- When possible, use reusable containers for foods such as crackers and cut up fruits or vegetables.
Other Tips
- Make sure your child can open all packages by themselves.
- Involve your child in packing their lunch. Children involved in food preparation may be more likely to try new foods and eat what is packed, minimizing food waste.
- Aim to include a food from each food group – lean proteins, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily (as per Canada’s Food Guide 2019).
- Some items, such as sandwiches, can be made ahead and frozen to save time. Note that some fillings such as fresh vegetables do not freeze well.
- Designate a shelf in the fridge/pantry at home for lunch items. This may help make packing lunches quicker and encourage independence for children packing their own lunches.
References