Healthy Eating Policy

March 2010

 

Rationale

This policy has been developed to further the promotion of health in St. Catherine’s School.  Research indicates a strong link between diet and performance. A healthy diet promotes concentration, protects teeth, lessens hyperactivity and reduces health risks in later life.

As part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (S.P.H.E) programme we encourage the children to become more  aware of the need for healthy food at lunch time. We ask you to encourage a healthy lunch from the start .

This healthy eating policy will become effective from Term 2 of school year 2009-2010.

Aims

The aims of the policy are to:

  • Promote nutritional awareness
  • Positively affect healthy eating among school age children
  • Raise levels of concentration within class through the consumption of healthy food
  • Support and encourage long-term healthy eating habits in children

Parents are encouraged to accept the school lunches provided. These   lunches have a good variety and are nutritional.  If they themselves provide lunch for their child, if possible, it should include a variety of  the following:

Bread/Cereals

Fruit and Vegetables

Milk, cheese and yoghurt

Meat, chicken or Tuna

A healthy lunch might be a ham, cheese or tuna sandwich, yoghurt, some  fruit  and  a  drink  of  water,  milk  or  fruit  juice.

Foods that are banned at lunch time are;

  • Chewing gum
  • Lollipops
  • Crisps
  • Popcorn
  • Fizzy Drinks
  • Drinks in glass bottles

Others that are not encouraged are:

  • Sweets
  • Biscuits
  • Cakes and buns
  • Fruit winders
  • Any chocolate products
  • Any nut  products
  • Hot drinks

On treat days parents may give treats to their own child and teachers  may give treats to their own class. These would be special  occasions such  as:

  • End of the week on a Friday
  • End of term,
  • Halloween,
  • School events and tours

As part of our healthy eating policy, no cakes or treats should be sent  into school to celebrate children’s  birthdays.

Lunch Time  Guidelines

Children will be asked not to swap lunches.

Children are not to share food utensils or drink containers.

As we are trying to reduce the amount of waste in the school,  we would  encourage parents to try and reduce the amount of packaging in their  child’s lunch box.   We would greatly appreciate your co-operation with this matter.

Implementation

If children bring prohibited food or drink into school they will be asked  by the class teacher to bring it home .

If children forget their lunch they will be provided with a sandwich and  drink that are  available in the school.

N.B:  Parents/guardians of  any child with a medical condition which requires a special diet should contact the school.

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