Healthy Eating Policy for Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Boys National School
Policy Document
School Name: Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Boys School, Bishopstown
Consultation: The current policy was designed by Jennifer King, Aideen Hallahan, Darragh O’Hanlon and Liam Mulcahy. It was developed in consultation with parents, pupils and teachers of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Boys School.
Date Policy Formally Approved: TBC
Date Policy Becomes Effective: September 2017.
Review Dates: Decided by the Principal but with the aim of reviewing in May/June 2018.
Person(s) Responsible for Implementation and Monitoring: It is essential that the school staff monitor the new policy and parents and children support the new policy changes to ensure it is effectively implemented.
Aim:
“To increase the knowledge of all the school’s community with regards to healthy eating and have a positive effect on their future outlook and the effects of eating/drinking nutrient dense foods vs unhealthy foods on children.”
Rationale:
- For primary school children to achieve their full potential, it is essential that they eat a healthy diet. Healthy eating provides the building blocks for lifelong health and well-being. Primary School children are at a time of physical growth and development – the most rapid since infancy requiring adequate intake of energy and nutrients.
- The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC, 2014) report has shown that many primary school children have poor eating habits.
- The home plays the major role in determining healthy eating habits. The school, in partnership with parents, can make an important contribution. A Healthy Eating Policy developed in consultation with the whole-school community which includes Teachers, Parents, Students and the Student Councils as part of the school planning process will help to integrate healthy eating into school life.
Objectives:
- To promote a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating patterns for the students.
- To encourage the students to appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing and developing and staying healthy.
- To encourage them to make healthier choices when they are helping their parent/guardian to prepare their lunch.
- To help develop student concentration and improve energy levels.
Key Policy Action:
Fruit Break: To encourage fruit and vegetable consumption a fruit/veg break will take place everyday in school. At a time agreed by school staff (11am) the bell will ring and the students and staff consume a piece of fruit (apple) or portion of vegetables (chopped carrots/peppers). Appendix A & B
Educate on good and not so good foods/drinks: Inform children of the effects on your body after consistently eating unhealthy foods v healthy foods by putting visual posters up around each class. Appendix C & D
Desktop Wallpaper: Different visual displays on each Computer of treats versus snacks so every time the students are allowed on the computer they’re seeing this. Appendix E
Friday Reward: To avoid giving children the wrong impression with regards to treats, we are going to reward the children with items such as pencils, stickers etc., homework off passes, or a chance to take notes to the office for the following week. Appendix F
Recipe of the week: Recipe suggestions for parents for lunch boxes sent out at the start of each term (School to recruit a parent or staff member or link with CIT to develop this monthly resource). Involving children in preparation of lunch should also be encouraged to enable the child to make healthier choices. Appendix G
*Dietician presentation*: Get an expert in the field of nutrition to perform a presentation/workshop annually to the parents after school giving up-to-date info and facts and overall increasing their knowledge in the area. TIP For parents of younger classes organise cover for junior and senior infants at pick up time to encourage parents to attend.
Lunches: This healthy eating policy will be given to each student and parent at the school to ensure each person involved in the policy is aware of what foods can be brought to school and what foods are forbidden. This will help with the implementation of the healthy eating policy at lunch times.
Promotion: Within the school and among the children, the policy aims to help the children make healthier choices. Creating posters and leaflets with information and pictures to make a healthy lunch options and giving alternatives, not just one choice will help reach this objective
Dissemination: The policy will be disseminated to the school’s community. Firstly, by informing the teachers via email and informing them face-to-face re meeting. Secondly, an email will be sent out to parents making them aware of the changes to the policy. Thirdly, a meeting will take place between the children’s council, to announce the changes, so they can inform their fellow classmates.
Implementation/Monitoring:
If children bring prohibited food or drink into school, they will be asked to put it away until after school as they are not permitted to eat “junk food” in school.
If children persist in bringing unhealthy food to school, the class teacher and principal will organise a meeting with their parents/guardians to remind them of the Healthy Eating Policy. It is very difficult to implement the policy successfully if all children do not adhere to the guidelines. It is also not fair on the children who comply with our Healthy Eating Policy to see children who clearly do not obey the rules.
Action/Key Themes:
Links with the Healthy Eating Policy: The SPHE curriculum
Links to Wider Community: The HSE and Safe Foods distribute information on healthy eating and the food pyramid to schools.
Ratified On:
Signed (Chairman): _________________________________
Signed (Principal): _________________________________