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The Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth uses a food rating system as a simple way to separate healthy foods from less healthy foods and to decide which foods should be present in our school community.

The food rating system puts all foods into three categories, based on specific nutritional criteria. The three categories are: Choose Most Often, Choose Sometimes and Choose Least Often. Familiar symbols such as “Go, Yield and Stop” are an easy way to identify the three categories.

Choose Most Often – High nutrient foods

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.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, 100% juice, whole grain products, low fat dairy products, lean meat, eggs, nut butters, tofu and legumes are all “Go” foods!

Choose Sometimes – Moderate nutrient foods

No more than three servings from the Choose Sometimes category are recommended per week for consumption. While foods in this category may still provide beneficial nutrients, they tend to be higher in added sugar, unhealthy fat and sodium (salt).

Refined grain products, higher fat and/or higher sugar dairy products, processed meats and salted nuts are all “Yield” foods!

Choose Least Often – Low nutrient foods

Eating these foods is not recommended. No more than one serving from the Choose Least Often category is recommended.

High calorie, low nutrient foods such as high fat crackers, candy, ice cream, pastries, muffins, doughnuts, pop, energy drinks, fruit flavored drinks, chips, sugary cereals, cookies and chocolate bars are all “STOP” foods!