Healthy Eating Policy
1. Mary Mother of Hope National School through these guidelines aims to help all those involved in our school community, children, staff and parents, in developing positive and responsible attitudes to eating and to appreciate the contribution that good food makes to health.
2 (a) Nutrition-what people eat is known to be one of the key factors influencing the health of school children and also staff who work in schools may eat one of their main daily meals within the school. Food is often a feature of school celebrations. The taught curriculum provides an opportunity to teach about food and healthy lifestyles.
(b) A healthy lunchbox includes a piece of food from the first four shelves of the food pyramid i.e.
First shelf: cereals, bread and potatoes.
Second shelf: Fruit and vegetables.
Third shelf: milk, cheese and yoghurt.
Fourth shelf: meat, fish and alternatives.
(c) Children may have one or two treats on special days e.g. the day of Christmas holidays, summer holidays etc. On these days children will be allowed to include some food from the top shelf of the food pyramid.
(d) Following discussions with Staff and Parent Association members it was agreed that parents should not send cakes or sweets to school on the day of children’s birthdays. We are happy to acknowledge birthdays in class and to sing “Happy Birthday” but school staff will not distribute sweets, cakes or “Goodie Bags” sent to school.
(e) Cans and glasses are not permitted for safety and litter reasons. Healthier choices of drink include water, milk and unsweetened juice.
(f) Some of the healthy snacks that we encourage for the small break include fruit, yoghurt, fromage frais, crackers, carrot/celery sticks, raisins and cheese strings.
2 (a) Nutrition-what people eat is known to be one of the key factors influencing the health of school children and also staff who work in schools may eat one of their main daily meals within the school. Food is often a feature of school celebrations. The taught curriculum provides an opportunity to teach about food and healthy lifestyles.
(b) A healthy lunchbox includes a piece of food from the first four shelves of the food pyramid i.e.
First shelf: cereals, bread and potatoes.
Second shelf: Fruit and vegetables.
Third shelf: milk, cheese and yoghurt.
Fourth shelf: meat, fish and alternatives.
(c) Children may have one or two treats on special days e.g. the day of Christmas holidays, summer holidays etc. On these days children will be allowed to include some food from the top shelf of the food pyramid.
(d) Following discussions with Staff and Parent Association members it was agreed that parents should not send cakes or sweets to school on the day of children’s birthdays. We are happy to acknowledge birthdays in class and to sing “Happy Birthday” but school staff will not distribute sweets, cakes or “Goodie Bags” sent to school.
(e) Cans and glasses are not permitted for safety and litter reasons. Healthier choices of drink include water, milk and unsweetened juice.
(f) Some of the healthy snacks that we encourage for the small break include fruit, yoghurt, fromage frais, crackers, carrot/celery sticks, raisins and cheese strings.
- Foods which have wrappers are to be disposed of properly in the child’s own home so as to reduce litter and protect our school environment.
- All classes will receive a minimum of 2 lessons on healthy eating.
- Teachers will provide positive modelling and supportive attitudes to encourage healthy eating.
- Healthy eating will be encouraged and promoted in our school through the use of reward systems such as giving out healthy eating stickers, certificates etc. Children will also be reminded of the school’s healthy eating policy at assemblies.
- Parents of new children enrolling at Mary Mother of Hope N.S. will receive healthy eating literature and guidelines.
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