Healthy Eating Policy

St. Mary’s & St. Gerard’s N.S.

Healthy Eating Policy

This policy was formulated through a process of collaboration between the Parents Association, the staff, the school pupils and the Board of Management.

Aims of Policy:

  • To promote nutritional awareness and healthy eating habits among school age children

Benefits of a good diet:

  • Healthy eating helps ensure the development of good hair, skin, teeth, muscles and strong bones.
  • Provides energy and helps a child concentrate better.
  • Good eating habits start in childhood and stay with children forever thus influencing their chances of a healthier life.

 

THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES TO CERTAIN FOODS, THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE SCHOOL – NUTS AND KIWI FRUIT.

Guidelines:

Children must be able to manage their own lunch

Suggested list of foodstuffs that are suitable for your child’s lunch:

  • Breads – whole-grain breads, rolls, bagels, wraps, soda bread or pitta.
  • Bread substitutes – oatcakes, plain rice cakes, brown scones, pancakes or crackers.
  • Fillings – cheese, tuna, hummus, cold meats, pate, egg, lettuce, spinach, cucumber, tomato, onion, peppers, coleslaw, salad, banana or jam.
  • Hot leftovers in a flask – curry, pasta(with or without sauce), soup/chowder, baked beans, rice, stew, lasagne or noodles.
  • Cold leftovers – pasta/ rice salad, pizza, potato cakes, quiche, fish cakes, chicken drumsticks, sausages, sausage rolls, sushi, potato salad or coleslaw.
  • Fruit – apple, orange, banana, grapes, pear, plum, peach, apricot, melon, grapefruit, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, mango, blackberries or blueberries.

Remember to peel and/or cut fruit and vegetables into bite size pieces for younger children.

Raw vegetables – tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, carrot sticks, celery sticks, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber.

Others – wholemeal/bran muffins, brown/fruit/plain scones, flapjacks, breadsticks, dried fruit, fruit yogurt, cheese cubes, plain biscuit, plain bun, plain cake.

The following are not allowed in school:

  • Nuts (including peanut butter).
  • Kiwi fruit
  • Fizzy drinks, sports drinks and drinks with cordial / high sugar content.
  • Chewing gum.
  • Chocolate (including chocolate spread).
  • Sweets & winders.
  • Crisps & popcorn.

Drinks:

  • Water, milk or unsweetened fruit juice are encouraged with lunch.
  • Children are encouraged to have a bottle of water to sip from throughout the day, as required.

Tips:

  • Ensure your child starts the day with a good breakfast.
  • Eat small regular meals, not one big meal each day.
  • Children who take physical exercise each day will have a better appetite for healthy food.
  • Serve brown bread instead of white
  • Cut large rolls/wraps/sandwiches into more manageable sizes.

The children will bring home the remains of their school lunch and wrapping so parents will be aware of how much of their lunch is being eaten each day.

Implementation of policy:

  • Parents are responsible for providing a healthy school lunch daily for their child(ren).
  • Children are encouraged to get involved in making their own healthy school lunch.
  • Teachers will teach about healthy eating as part of the SPHE curriculum. They will support the policy and reward children accordingly.

Ratification:

This policy was ratified by the Board of Management on March 4th, 2020. It will be reviewed in two years or sooner if necessary.

 

Mr Eugene O’Mara                                  4th March 2020

Chairperson, Board of Management               Date