School Healthy Eating Policy

Scoil Ioseph,
Derryclough,
Drinagh,
Co. Cork
Welcome to Scoil Iosafs Healthy Eating Policy. It has been put together by our Health
Promotion! team members, in consultation "ith parents, stu#ents an# teachers of Scoil Iosaf,
an# "ith assistance from the HSE south Health Promoting Schools Co$or#inator.
We felt there "as a nee# to create this policy for se%eral reasons&
'he a"areness of #eclining fitness an# health in chil#ren, nationally
(s part of the schools SPHE )Social, Personal an# Health E#ucation* programme,
learning about foo# an# nutrition.
'o make e%eryone in the school$ teachers, parents an# chil#ren a"are of the
importance an# benefits of a healthy #iet.
'o encourage all to make healthy foo# choices.
'o clarify for e%eryone "hich choices are a%ailable, an# "hich choices "e "ill be
#iscouraging.
We "ill regularly #isplay an# #iscuss the foo# pyrami#, on "hich "e are basing our nutrition
policy. 'asting an# sampling a "i#e %ariety of foo#s "ill be encourage# #uring geography
an# other lessons "hen appropriate )sub+ect to chil#rens in#i%i#ual #iet an# allergy
consi#erations "here appropriate $ please inform us of these on the enrolment form*
,n occasion, "e "ill hol# a Healthy -unch! sampling afternoon to refresh our memories
about the many healthy possibilities.
'reats, at the top of the pyrami#, shoul# be eaten in mo#eration.
Ho"e%er, ha%ing #iscusse# the stu#ents i#eas, "e "ill allo" treats in mo#eration!,
meaning& on Fridays and on Party days, "e "ill allo" one treat in each chil#s lunchbo.,
please.
'eachers "ill not use foo# treats as a re"ar# in class.
Drinks are %ery important to a%oi# #ehy#ration/ Please pro%i#e 0 healthy #rinks )list
at en#* or 1 if chil# is participating in the school milk scheme.
In Scoil Iosaf, there are t"o lunch breaks&
11&22$11&13am
10&42$1&22pm
Chil#ren ha%e a #e#icate# sitting$#o"n! eating time until 11&23am )12 mins in total*, to eat
a small portion of their lunch 5 fruit, yoghurt, san#"ich, etc.
(t the start of 6ig -unch!, at 10&42, chil#ren "ill sit on the benches in the hall to eat the rest
of their lunch. Chil#ren "ill not "alk aroun# "hile eating. (ny left$o%er foo#s, inclu#ing
crusts an# "rappers, are to go back into the lunchbo., so parents can see ho" much has been
eaten.
-unch bo.es "ill be kept in the hall, an# #rinks especially, shoul# not be store# in
schoolbags, to a%oi# spills an# ruine# books. Water, but not any other #rink, can be ha#
#uring class time. )It #ries clean*
Healthy -unch Suggestions7e.amples&
(t -east one item from each of the foo# groups&
Cereal 8roup& 6rea#, san#"ich, roll, bagel, pitta pocket, crackers, rice$cakes, pancakes,
"raps, pasta, potato sala#, etc.
9ruit7:eg. group& ( "hole piece of any fruit$ apple, pear, banana, plum, peach, etc., carrot
sticks, sala# in a bo., %egetable soup, fruit +uice, etc. )please remember to cut up7peel for
younger pupils*
;ilk7Dairy group& ;ilk, cheese cubes, or on san#"ich, yoghurt, smoothies, etc.
Protein7;eat group& har# boile#$egg, chicken chunks, col# meats in san#"ich or sala#,
tinne# fish, hummus, etc.
Drinks& Water, milk, pure fruit +uices, sugar$free fruit s<uashes, "arm soup in a flask )goo#
on col# #ays/*
'reats ),n 9ri#ay only*& Cake or bun, cereal bar, biscuits, small packet s"eets, small
chocolate bar, etc. ;o#eration is the key "or#/
=ot (llo"e#&
Crisps
9i>>y #rinks
Popcorn
Peanuts
Sports #rinks
Che"ing gum
'offee7fu#ge
( lot of thought an# #iscussion has gone into this policy, researche# an# compile# by the
parents an# pupils themsel%es. We ask you, please, therefore, to co$operate "ith us in
implementing it, an# keep to the gui#elines gi%en. 'he benefits "ill be seen in the chil#rens
health, fitness an# concentration le%els.
Each parent "ill recei%e a copy of this policy, an# it "ill also be inclu#e# in our "elcome
pack! for ne" pupils.