Kilbarron National School

Kilbarron N.S. Healthy Lunch Policy

 This policy was drafted during the school year 2005/2006 in full consultation with the teachers, parents and Board of Management of Kilbarron N.S. A draft policy was drawn up by the teachers, circulated to the Parents Association for comment and suggestions and was then ratified by the Board of Management on 16^th May 2006.

 This policy has been informed by relevant literature and research regarding the nutritional needs of young children. It is intended that the policy be of help to parents when trying to complete the difficult task of filling their child’s lunch box. The Board recognises that this can be an extremely stressful and worrying duty for parents and it is hoped that this policy will not increase the stress involved. Therefore it is intended to introduce the policy in as positive a way as possible to the children – strategies and suggestions will be outlined later in the policy.

 Schools, through the subject of Social, Personal and Health Education, promote lifelong healthy eating habits as well as encouraging physical activity. Children’s understanding and ways of behaving are significantly influenced by the family and home environment.  Responsibility is shared by parents, teachers, children, board of management and health professionals. As part of the S.P.H.E. Programme we in Kilbarron N.S. encourage the children to become more aware of the need for healthy food in their lunch boxes.

 Children form their eating habits for life from an early age.  Eating habits, started in childhood, will influence a child’s chances of a healthy life. It is recommended that  lunch should provide one-third of a child’s food requirements for the day.

 

Aims

• To promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living.
• To promote a healthy attitude to food based on a consistency in approach, where parents, teachers, board of management and children share responsibility.
• To foster self-awareness and understanding and enable children to care for and respect themselves.
• To enable children to make decisions and choices about health dimensions of life both now and in the future.

 

Objectives

• Appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing and development and staying healthy.
• Appreciate that balance, regularity and moderation are necessary in the diet.
• Differentiate between a healthy and unhealthy diet.
• Recognise the wide choice of food available and categorise food into four main food groups and their place on food pyramid.
• Examine the dietary needs of his/her own age group.
• Realise and accept some personal responsibilities for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy balanced diet.
• Recognise some of the important nutrients that are necessary in a balanced diet and the food products in which they are found.
• Awareness of importance of hygiene and care in the preparation and use of food.

 

Lunch Suggestions

Breads and Alternatives

Wholemeal bread, white bread, scones, fruit brack, rice cakes, pitta bread, crackers, rolls, tortilla breads, wraps, cracottes, baps, oat cakes, quiche, pizza etc.

 Fillings

Lean meat, fish, cheese, salad, egg, chicken, turkey, banana, tomato, jam, marmalade, peanut butter, pate etc.

Drinks

Milk, water, pure fruit juice, diluted sugar free/low sugar drinks, yoghurts, smoothies, soups etc.

Snacks

Fruit, chopped vegetables, cheese cubes, dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, apricot, banana, pineapple etc.), nutri-grain cereal bars (not the chocolate ones or those high in sugar content), plain popcorn, fruit brack, bread sticks, banana bread, carrot cake, tinned fruit (in its own juice), fromage frais yoghurt, plain nuts, seeds (e.g. pumpkin), potato cakes, flap jacks, fruit muffins, muesli bars, pasta, rice etc.

 Please note that the above are suggestions only and that parents and children are encouraged to come up with their own healthy lunch and possibly bring it to the attention of their classmates!

 On special occasions over the school year the children will be allowed to bring in some treats to school i.e. Christmas, Halloween, summer holidays etc.

 A word about milk

 It is recommended that growing children get approximately one pint of milk a day, or its equivalent as cheese, yoghurt or milk pudding.  This ensures that they get enough calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth.  If a child does not drink a glass of milk at lunch, encourage him to have a carton of yoghurt or a small helping of cheese instead.

Milk is provided at a small charge to the pupils in our school. It is kept refrigerated until lunch time. Milk is a rich source of protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals

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

• Fats, Sugars, Sweets etc.           Sparingly
• Meat, Fish, Peas/Beans             2 portions per day                                                                                            
• Milk, Cheese & Yoghurt            3+ portions per day                   
•  Fruit & Vegetables                     5+ portions per day   
• Bread, Cereals & Potatoes        6+ portions per day

 Foods not allowed in school

 Crisps, fizzy drinks, sunny delight, sweets, chocolate (including chocolate muffins, spreads and drinks) biscuits, bars, cereal bars that are high in sugar content etc. If you are unsure please ask a teacher.

 

Strategies to Promote Healthy Lunches

• Poster displays, print rich classroom, healthy lunch corner etc
• Invited speakers- dietician, nutritionist, nurse, local sports stars etc. for pupils and parents( advice, recommendations, information)
• Healthy eating videos and booklets etc.
• One ‘healthy eating’ lesson per month per class.
• Food displays, food launch days, food tasting days etc
• Outside visits to food source outlets, e.g. farm, creamery, bakery
• Special Healthy Eating Days – e.g. fruit day, veggie day, berry day etc.

Enforcement of our Healthy Lunch Policy

• Enforcement will normally come from a positive reinforcement starting point. Individual teachers will reinforce healthy eating in each classroom. Children who present with “unhealthy options” will be encouraged to replace the items in their lunch box and take them home again and to eat only the healthier options in school. If a healthy option is not available in the child’s lunch box the class teacher will make contact with the child’s parents to remind them of the school’s healthy lunch policy. In such instances the child will not be allowed to “go hungry” for the day.
• Principal to visit each class level with words of praise and encouragement on a monthly basis
• Children will not be encouraged to be reminding, checking or reporting on the contents of lunchboxes of other children in their class.