Time to Improve Nutrition for School-Aged Kids

Nutrition shapes how kids feel, learn, grow, and stay healthy—for life.

Spotlight on Protein

Know Your Protein Sources

Time to Prioritize Iron

6 More Helpful Resources for Parents

CLICK FOR REFERENCES
  1. Public Health Agency of Canada. 2020. The health of Canadian youth: Findings from the health behaviour in school-aged children study.
  2. Polsky JY et al. 2020. Consumption of ultra-processed foods in Canada. Statistics Canada health reports. Government of Canada.
  3. Health Canada. 2015. Evidence Review for Dietary Guidance. Technical Report.
  4. University of Manitoba. 2023. Food and Nutrition Security for Manitoba Youth: A Research Report on the FANS Study.
  5. Ng A, Ahmed M, L’Abbe M. 2021. Nutrient intakes of Canadian children and adolescents: Results from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2015 – Nutrition public use microdata files.
  6. Cooper M et al. Population Iron Status in Canada: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2012–2019. J Nutr 2023;153:1534–154.
  7. Health Canada. 2006. Dietary Reference Intakes. Reference Values for Macronutrients. Government of Canada.
  8. Elango R et al. Protein requirement of healthy school-age children determined by the indicator amino acid oxidation method. Am J Clin Nutr 2011;94(6):1545–1552.
  9. Fabek H, Salamat S, and Anderson GH. Association Between Dietary Protein Sources and Nutrient Intake in the Diet of Canadian Children. Nutrients 2025;17(11):1834.
  10. Canadian Paediatric Society. 2022. Iron deficiency anemia in children.
  11. Stubbendorff A et al. Iron insight: exploring dietary patterns and iron deficiency among teenage girls in Sweden. European Journal of Nutrition 2025;64:107.
  12. Institute of Medicine. 2001. Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
  13. Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program. 2011. Iron-deficiency anemia in children.
  14. Cofnas N. Is vegetarianism healthy for children? Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2018;59(13):20522060.
  15. Cooper MJ, Cockell KA, and L’Abbé MR. The iron status of Canadian adolescents and adults: current knowledge and practical implications. Can J Diet Pract Res 2006;67(3):1308.