Healthy Eating Policy
School: Caherleaheen NS
Rational:
Our school is dedicated to providing an environment that promotes healthy eating and enables all to make informed choices about all aspects of food, not just in our lunchboxes.
This policy was developed in consultation with the Parents Association, teachers, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Classes and the H.S.E.
Key documents which informed this policy are: Irish Healthy Eating Guidelines and new Food Pyramid 2016, Healthy Lifestyles Circular 0013/2016 (D.E.S.).
Aims:
- To promote healthy eating and a healthy attitude to food across school life consistent with national healthy eating guidelines and school curriculum.
- To take a whole school approach to food in school in relation to
- The Environment
- The Curriculum
- Policy and Planning
- Partnership ( Home/school community, D.E.S. and H.S.E.)
- To make the consumption of food an enjoyable and sustainable and safe experience.
Whole School Approach:
Environment
Adequate time for lunch and comfortable environment will be provided. Children are encouraged to drink water during classes and at breaks. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom. They are encouraged to use hand-sanitizer gel. A culture of healthy eating is modelled by adults in school. We ask children to bring home their food waste.
Curriculum and Learning
Our promotion of healthy eating compliments and is part of our P.E., S.P.H.E. and Science curriculum. Children are taught life skills to promote informed decision making regarding their physical and mental health.
Policy and Planning
Caherleaheen reviews and adapts planning to promote health. SPHE and Healthy Eating lessons are taught at similar times across class groups.
This policy is closely linked and correlated with whole school programmes such as our Active Flag Initiatives, Green Flag Initiatives, Food Dudes and the Super Troopers programme.
Partnerships
Our partners are parents, local sports clubs such as Kerry Games Development – F.A.I. Mini Sevens, Tralee Harriers, Spike-ball Ireland, An Taisce, Gortbrack Farm and the H.S.E. We believe that communication with our partners, in particular our parents, should be on-going and reciprocal. This policy can only be implemented with the full support of both staff and parents.
LUNCHBOXES
(Please refer to the new Food Pyramid (2016) and the most recent advice from the H.S.E. Information in the the links attached to this policy, promotes dietary recommendations, portion sizes and accessible exercise schedules. They are attractively illustrated and are both adult and child friendly. They offer excellent suggestions for healthy school lunch boxes and mealtimes/snacks at home. Also remember the science: ‘you are what you eat’. Food, especially sugar, artificial sweeteners, additives and processed foods can affect mood, behaviour, attention and brain development).
CAHERLEAHEEN NS: Lunch-box Guidelines
IN;
All fruit, vegetables and berries-the more ‘ RAINBOW COLOURS ’ the better
Beans, pulses, lentils, seeds, hummus
Bread, rolls, pitta breads, wraps, tortillas (Wholemeal is recommended)
Plain (not chocolate topped) rice and oat cakes/crackers/sugar free cereal bars,
Plain or whole-meal biscuits/plain scones
Cheese/egg/low sugar yoghurt
All meats, poultry and fish
Pasta/rice/couscous/quinoa and other grains/cereals
Water/diluted sugar free squash/diluted juice.
Milk/soup
AVOID, if possible;
Processed meats (nitrite compounds)
Yoghurt drinks/’frubes’ /’petit filous’/ ‘corner’ chocolate yoghurt eg Muller
(high in sugar/tooth decay)
Fruit juice/Juice cartons (sugar – teeth)
Cereal bars: eg oat/apple, breakfast bars (high in sugar)
Fruit Smoothies (sugars-teeth, limited fibre)
Pizza/pretzel /brioche
Sweet custard pots/Jam
Artificial sweeteners
STRICTLY NOT ALLOWED:
ALL NUTS eg peanuts peanut butter, brazil, hazel. ( nut allergies)
Nutella/chocolate spread
Chocolate croissants/biscuits/cereal bars/ chocolate coated nuts.
‘Winders’/ jelly strips/jelly pots.
Rice Krispie squares (Kellogg’s etc) or Rice Krispie buns.
Confectionary: Brownies/ Danish pastries/buns/ queen cakes/ tarts /fruit cake/ biscuit cake etc
Sweet biscuits
Chocolate or chocolate drinks
Chocolate
Popcorn (all kinds)
Crisps/sweets/pops
Fizzy drinks, energy drinks
The following practices will not be continued under this new policy:
- Jumbo/’Back from holidays’ whole class bags of sweets/bars/treats/chocolate
- Birthday/celebratory cakes
- Birthday treat-bags
The following exceptions will be continued but limited:
- All school tours and outings ( eg cinema etc) – a small sized ‘treat’
- Christmas/Grandparents Day – Cake Sales will be combined with Savoury Sales (Max 2 items per child)
- End of term/class parties – a small sized treat in lunchbox or provided by teacher
- Sport Days – No treats or sweets, just normal healthy lunches
We usually secure fruit sponsorship for Sport Days
- Pancake Tuesday – Strictly No nutella/chocolate spread
- Down Syndrome HB Ice Cream fundraiser will continue
- Teacher Rewards or celebrating a child’s birthday – No treats allowed – instead – stickers, note home, extra playtime/golden time/show and tell, special ‘throne’ cushion, homework pass, puzzle/pencil/pens/ruler, VIP birthday badge
- ‘Principal’s Pops’ These lollipops sre offered to children who need plasters!
- Easter-eggs as prizes or rewards (limited).
- Holy Communion Celebration (post-ceremony, in hall) will be organised and monitored by the Parents Assocation and parents of First Class, as is our school’s tradition.
Therefore, with these revised practices, if fully implemented, we can promote physical and social wellbeing where celebrations and achievements do not circle exclusively around sweets and confectionary. We can also ensure that children are not concerned about what other children are eating.
Policy Approval/Ratification
This policy was ratified by the Board of Management of Scoil Naomh Pádraig Measc November, 2017 and reviewed in 2019, 2021, 2022.
The contents of this policy have been approved by St. Senan’s Education Office, acting on behalf of the Patron.
Review
Further reviews will take place biennially or earlier if deemed necessary by the Board of Management.
Note: This policy and other policies are available on the school website at www.caherleaheen.com or from the office to borrow.
Here are links to the recently published Revised Healthy Eating Guidelines, New Food Pyramid rational and much more. Highly recommended reading.