Shandrum National School

Healthy Eating Policy

Introductory Statement

This policy was drawn up on the 25th November 2005 by Elaine Quinn, Health Promotion Co-Ordinator, after consultation with other teachers, school Principal, Parents, children at every class level, staff of the local pre-school, the dental hygienist and members of the Health Promotion Department of the Southern Health Board — Karen Harrington and Marion Kelleher. It has since been reviewed a number of times the latest being September 2013. It was reviewed by the Health Promotion Co-ordinator Marie Naughton, in consultation with other teachers, School Principal and Parents.

Rationale

On April 29th 2005, we were delighted to receive recognition as a H.S.E. - Southern area, Health Promoting School. This was a wonderful achievement for us, the reward for a lot of hard work in promoting the health of all in the school community since embarking on this initiative during the 2001/2002 school year. A Nutrition Policy is a requirement of being a H.P.S. In September we received our Health Promoting School Flag and as part of the Social, Personal and Health Educational Programme we encourage the children to become more aware of the need for healthy food in their lunch boxes. Also the Physical Education programme supports the physical development and fitness of the children and last year we received out Active School Flag. The Science curriculum also looks at the development of the body and deepens the children’s understanding of how the body grows and develops.

Nutrition Policy

A Nutrition Policy can help improve nutrition standards in the school and encourage healthy eating amongst everybody in the school. It is a proven fact that proper nutrition, especially a proper breakfast can help improve concentration and energy levels, thus helping to improve performance at work and at play. Good nutrition is important for normal growth and development. Forming good eating habits help protect against illness in the future. It helps keep teeth healthy and strong.

Aims of this Policy

• • To promote the personal development and well being of the child.

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

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

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

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). Frequently in the news headlines we hear about the alarming levels of obesity among Primary school children. A Healthy Eating Policy is one way of helping children become more aware of the importance of healthy eating and a balanced diet.

Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme

During the school year 2013/2014 we are delighted to be participating in the Food Dudes Healthy Programme. This programme is managed by Bord Bia and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European Union through the School Fruit Scheme. It is fully supported and endorsed by the Department of Education and Skills, the INTO, the Primary School Management Organisations, the National Parents’ Council – Primary and the Irish Primary Principals’ Network.

Developed by the Food Research Unit, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Wales, the Programme is designed to increase children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables, and is based on positive role models, repeated tastings and rewards. Studies conducted with a 12 month follow up have proven the Food Dudes increases children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables in the long term.

Break Times

Break Times are as follows and children normally eat their lunches during these times.

Morning break - 10:50 – 11.00 a.m.

Lunchtime - 12.30 —1 p.m.

An exception will be made if requested for medical reasons, e.g. if a child has diabetes.

Food Hygiene and Safety

Wash hands before/after eating. We endeavour to ensure that children are reminded to wash hands after using the toilet.

Wash fruit & Vegetables

Children should wash fruit and vegetables at home before it is included in the lunch box.

School lunches should be properly packed and sealed. Sandwiches should be wrapped separately in cling film/sandwich bags/kitchen foil. These wrappings are re-useable or recyclable. School milk is stored in a refrigerator until it is distributed to the classes at 10.50 a.m.

Children will be encouraged to lay out lunch on lids of lunch boxes or eat directly from the lunch box. It is not recommended that sandwiches, etc. are laid down directly on the classroom tables, which have been in contact with many hands, books, crayons, etc.

An information leaflet outlining suitable food and drink for school lunches will be made available to every family with this policy and hereafter will be made available to new entrants to school with admissions pack.

What is not allowed?

The following items are not allowed to be included in school lunches -

• • Fizzy drinks - coke, club orange, 7-up, lucozade, fanta, caprisun, sports drinks e.g. powerade, etc.

  • No cans, no glass bottles

  • Crisps of any kind

  • Sweets, chocolate bars, cakes or biscuits

  • Chewing gum

  • Nuts (**)

  • Chocolate based yogurts/ drinks.

(**) Nut Allergy

It has been brought to the school’s attention that a few pupils in the school have a severe allergic reaction to peanuts/ nuts. This allergic reaction can occur through ingestion of nut products, cross contamination and breathing peanuts/ nuts in the air. Due to the severity of the problem, it is important that all parents carry out the following measures to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to this child

• Avoid giving your child anything in their lunch that contains nuts – this includes all cereal bars and sandwich spreads etc.., which states it contains nuts or may contain nut traces.

• Speak to your child about not sharing their lunches. The class teachers will also speak to their pupils about this.

What is allowed?

• • Cereal bars which are fruit based preferably

  • Plain biscuits- rich tea, digestive, etc

  • Popcorn ( non sugar coated)

  • Plain baking- Queen cakes, Madeira (no icing)

Waste Disposal

We encourage children to re-use whatever lunch packaging they can, e.g. plastic bottles.

As part of our ongoing green school campaign, we aim to be recycling in school and children will be encouraged to separate their waste - recycling items such as milk cartons, yogurt pots, plastic sandwich bags, etc.

The content of this policy will be explained to children in the classrooms through S.P.H.E./S.E.S.E. lessons.

This policy will be revisited yearly to review its implementation to evaluate feedback, to troubleshoot any problems and to make additions, if necessary.

This Policy was reviewed by the Board of Management on 30^th September 2013.

Signed: Chris Morrissey

Chairperson Board Of Management.

Date: 30^th September 2013.