2024 Great Big Crunch

The Great Big Crunch is returning to Hamilton schools on Thursday, March 7th, 2024! We anticipate over 20,000 crunchers will be participating in school events. The Great Big Crunch is a simple concept. Students gather in classrooms, gymnasiums or hallways, each with a crisp, juicy apple in hand. After a countdown, everyone bites into their apples simultaneously, making a great big “crunch!”  

All the apples are from the local orchards of Drummond Farms and purchased through a generous donation from FirstOntario Credit Union and The Ontario Produce and Marketing Association. All to celebrate healthy, local food during Nutrition Month!  

Share your Crunch: Take pictures or record your crunch and share on social media and/or your school website with any of these hashtags:  

• #TastebudsHamilton  

• #GreatBigCrunch  

• #HealthySchoolFood  

• #SchoolFoodProgram  

• #NourishKidsNow  

Be sure to tag Tastebuds in your posts!  

Twitter @TastebudsSNC Instagram @tastebudshamilton Facebook @HamiltonTastebuds   

Register your Crunch with Tastebuds here to receive free apples.

Create an apple toss video: Wish students across Hamilton “happy crunching!” The video will celebrate local, healthy food to promote nutrition month and highlight Tastebuds partnerships across the Hamilton community. Check out last years below!

Instructions: 

• Requires 4 people to record 

• Use a cell phone camera 

• A person stands on the left, off-camera and tosses the apple to you (centre). 

• Catch the apple and say “happy crunching.”  

• Then toss the apple to your right, to another person standing off-camera. 

• DM on Instagram @TastebudsHamiltonSNC or X (Twitter) @TastebudsSNC OR email to grohr@tastebudshamilton.ca 

Extra Resources:  

• Posters for schools

• Letters for parents (English & French)

• To be part of a virtual nationwide crunch countdown on March 7th at 1-1:30pm, register (Great Big Crunch | Coalition for Healthy School Food | Canada) your crunch with the Coalition for Healthy School Food  

• Check out the Coalitions activity toolkit for teachers and students  

• Feel free to use the Coalitions communication toolkit that has logos, social media material, and templates, etc. (English & French)  

Happy Crunching!!