Scoil Bhríde Crosshaven "Healthy Eating Policy"

Healthy Eating Policy

Scoil Bhríde, Crosshaven

13910

Introduction

As part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme as well as our Code of Behaviour, at scoil Bhríde Crosshaven we encourage the children to become more aware of the need for healthy food in their lunch boxes.

Rational

What people eat is known to be a key factor influencing health. We also believe that a good health lunch encourages a more positive and productive focus to class work.  Research indicates a strong link between diet and performance (e.g. a low sugar intake promotes concentration, lessens hyperactivity, protects teeth, and lessens the risk of diabetes. A low salt intake reduces the risk of heart disease in later life).

Aims

1.    To promote the personal development and well-being of the child

2.    To promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living in all its aspects.

Objectives

1.    To enable the child to appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing and developing and staying healthy

2.    To enable the child to accept some personal responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy, balanced diet.

Compliance with School Ethos

This policy complements the school ethos of nurturing potential in a safe environment where the welfare of children is paramount to reinforce the ethos of our school. “Scoil Bhríde is an all girl’s Primary School founded on the Presentation philosophy of Education and Catholic faith. We strive to proactively nurture and educate each child to her fullest potential and at every stage of her development. We believe in striking balance and we encourage the cultivation of strong relationships within the school and community.”

Lunch is an important meal for school-going children. It should provide one third of their recommended daily allowance of nutrients without being high in fat, sugar or salt.  It should also provide dietary fibre (roughage).

The traditional packed lunch of milk and sandwiches is under attack from a range of convenience foods like crisps, sweets, biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks. Parents and teachers are concerned about this trend but some find it difficult to come up with popular healthy alternatives. We ask you to encourage a healthy lunch right from the start.

The following guide is designed to help you provide quick, appetising, and nutritious lunches for your children

 

Bread & Alternatives                                              Savouries

Bread or rolls, preferably wholemeal                    Lean Meat

Rice – wholegrain                                            Chicken/Turkey

Pasta – wholegrain                                          Tinned Fish e.g. tuna/sardines       

Potato Salad                                                  Cheese

Wholemeal Scones                                           Quiche

Bread sticks                                                         

Crackers

Pitta bread                                                                                                     

                          

Fruit & Vegetables                                                    Drinks

Apples, Banana, Peach                                       Milk                       

Mandarins, Orange segments,                              Fruit juices

Fruit Salad, dried fruit,                                       Squashes, i.e. low sugar

Plum, Pineapple cubes                                        Yoghurt

Grapes,

Cucumber, Sweetcorn

Tomato,

Coleslaw.

We ask that children do not bring the following to school:

Snacks known to be high in sugar, saturated fat, salt, additives and preservatives, including the following:

·         Crisps (including crisp-style snacks)

·         Fizzy drinks (including fizzy fruit-flavoured water, juices, etc)                     

·         Sweets

·         Chocolate biscuits/bars

·         Cereal bars                                  

·         Chewing gum                      

·         Fruit winders                                

·         Popcorn

·         Breakfast Bars

·         Buns/Muffins

So as to take a proactive approach to healthy lunches, teachers will from time to time, reward children who can show a piece of fruit or other healthy foods in their lunchboxes.

A very simple approach to healthy eating is to use the Food Pyramid:

                                 Fats

                                       Sugar                                          Sparingly

                             Sweets etc.

                              Meat, Fish                          2 portions per day

                             Peas/Beans                                                                                  

                         

                             Milk, Cheese                        3+ portions per day

                                      Yoghurt                          

                         Fruit & Vegetables                     4+ portions per day

           

                     Bread, Cereals & Potatoes             6+ portions per day

Treat Day

Friday will be our treat day. On this day, children can include one food item from the ‘not allowed’ list.  This treat is at the discretion of the individual teachers.

Environmental Awareness

Our green school motto is:

‘GET GREEN, KEEP GREEN, MAKE IT INTO A REGULAR ROUTINE!’

With this in mind, children are also asked to:

·      take home (in lunchbox) all uneaten food, silver paper, wrappings, containers and cartons

·         put only fruit peel into the compost bins

·         not bring in cans and glass – for safety reasons.

Medical Awareness

“Parents/guardians of any child with a medical condition which requires a special diet should contact the school.”