Healthy Eating Policy(Reviewed June 2023)

As part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme, we at Scoil Mhuire Primary School encourage our children to become more aware of the need for healthy food in their lunch boxes.

What people eat is known to be a key factor influencing health. Research indicates a strong link between diet and performance. For example; a low sugar intake promotes concentration, lessens hyperactivity, protects teeth, and lessens the risk of diabetes. A low salt intake reduces the risk of heart disease in later life.

We believe that adults (staff, parents and carers) should be good role models and should support the children in understanding how balanced nutrition contributes to a person’s health, happiness and general well-being.

The school is aware that the primary role models in children’s healthy eating education are parents. We wish to build a positive and supportive relationship with the parents of children at our school through mutual understanding, trust and co-operation. In promoting this objective we will:

  • Inform parents about the school healthy eating policy and practice;
  • Encourage parents to be involved in reviewing school policy and making modifications to it, as needed.

To promote healthy eating habits in our school, we introduced a Healthy Eating Policy in 2008.The school participated in Food Dudes, a programme encouraging children to try fruit and vegetables, at various times.

The policy was reviewed in June 2023.  All stakeholders in the process i.e. parents, pupils, staff, were consulted and the revised policy was ratified by the B.O.M.

Relationship to Characteristic Spirit of the School:

Scoil Mhuire seeks to help the children to grow and develop into healthy, confident, mature adults, capable of realising their full potential as human beings. Developing a healthy attitude to food and helping children to develop good habits is seen as an important part of school life.

 Aims

  • To encourage a positive attitude to food
  • To promote a healthy diet
  • To educate about different foods
  • To promote good eating habits
  • To encourage children to have a healthy diet
  • To inform the adults of the school community about healthy eating in school
  • To have a healthy school community
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      Objectives

  1. To enable each child to appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing and developing and staying healthy
  2. To enable each child to accept some personal responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy, balanced diet.

Curriculum/Education

  • There are many opportunities in the primary school curriculum for learning about the importance of living a healthy life
  • The importance of balanced nutrition and healthy food choices is explicitly taught through the SPHE curriculum. Food and Nutrition is an important part of the Strand Unit: Taking Care of My Body at each class level and is taught each year. These themes are also dealt with in other subjects such as Science and PE

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WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN SANCTIONED FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES FOR THE CHILDREN. ALL CHILDREN ARE ISSUED WITH LOG IN DETAILS TO ALLOW THEM CHOOSE AND CHANGE THEIR DAILY LUNCH ORDER. OUR CURRENT SUPPLIERS ARE FRESH TODAY    www.freshtoday.ie

We ask that children do not bring the following to school:

Snacks known to be high in sugar, saturated fat, salt, additives and preservatives, including the following:

  • Crisps (including crisp-style snacks)
  • Fizzy drinks (including fizzy fruit-flavoured water, juices, etc)
  • Energy drinks
  • Sweets or bars
  • Cake/s
  • Chocolate biscuits/bars
  • Cereal bars (these can often contain as much sugar as chocolate bars)
  • Chewing gum
  • Fruit winders

So as to take a proactive approach to healthy lunches, teachers will from time to time, reward children and mention at assembly those who can show a piece of fruit or other healthy foods in their lunchboxes.

Treat Days,Special Days and Celebrations

Friday is treat day. On treat days pupils are allowed a small portion from the top shelf of the food pyramid e.g. fun size chocolate bar/small iced bun/biscuits.

Foods with artificial additive and colours e.g. Smarties, M & M’s, cereal bars etc.should be avoided.  Special events and celebrations – on these occasions foods other than fruit or vegetables may be offered, but the staff will remind the children that this is an “occasional” treat and not “every day food”.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Role of Parents:

  • Provide a healthy well-balanced lunch for children
  • Encourage healthy eating
  • Inform the school of any child’s special dietary needs
  • To implement school policy by not allowing their children to bring chewing gum, crisps, chocolate bars or sweets to school except on treat day.

Role of Children:

  • To eat their lunch
  • To bring home any uneaten lunch
  • To help make their lunches and remind parents of the Healthy Lunch Policy
  • Not to bring fizzy drinks, energy drinks, chewing gum, crisps, chocolate bars or sweets to school.

Role of School Staff

  • To promote and encourage healthy eating.
  • To educate children by teaching the appropriate content from the curriculum.
  1. Responsibility for review:

A policy review will take place June 2024

  1. Communication and Ratification

A copy of the reviewed policy will be sent to all parents and a copy will be included in the enrolment pack for new pupils.  The policy will be published on the school website (www.scoilmhuirerock.ie)

Signed: Gerry Coyle(Chairperson)

Signed: Dónal Quigley(Principal)

Date: June 2023