Christ the King Healthy Eating Policy Introductory Statement As part of the school’s commitment to the overall development of our pupils, we encourage healthy eating at all times. The Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme encourages the children to become more aware of the need for healthy food. What people eat is known to be a key factor influencing health. Research indicates a strong link between diet and performance. With this in mind our Healthy Eating Policy was formulated. This policy is intended to encourage our pupils to develop good dietary habits. Our Healthy Eating Policy helps to promote the health of each child and to provide a foundation for healthy living. Free school lunches are provided to each pupil. However a small number of pupils opt to bring in their own school lunch. Aims
To promote the personal development and well-being of the child
To promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living in all its aspects.
To promote nutritional awareness e.g. looking at the ingredients in food
To raise levels of concentration and energy through the consumption of healthy food
To support and encourage healthy eating habits in children which it is hoped will become lifelong habits
To protect the health and safety of children with serious food allergies
To provide members of staff, parents and those involved in school activities with clear information
To support the school’s environmental policy in insisting on recycling
Objectives
To enable the child to appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing and developing and staying healthy
To enable the child to accept some personal responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy, balanced diet.
Lunch is an important meal for school-going children. It should provide one third of their recommended daily allowance of nutrients without being high in fat, sugar or salt. It should also provide dietary fibre (roughage). The traditional packed lunch of milk and sandwiches is under attack from a range of convenience foods like crisps, sweets, biscuits, chocolate and soft drinks. Parents and teachers are concerned about this trend and we ask you to encourage a healthy lunch right from the start.
Drinks allowed Water Milk: growing children should drink milk to ensure that they get enough calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth. If your child does not drink milk at lunch, encourage her to have a carton of yoghurt or a small helping of cheese instead.
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:
Peanuts and nuts in any form as there are children with allergies
Cans, glasses and hot liquids are not permitted for health and safety reasons
On special occasions (end of term parties) pupils may bring treats into school and teachers may give treats to their own class.
Although it is a special occasion, birthday cakes /treats are not allowed to be brought into school on a child’s birthday.
Green Flag School Children are requested to bring home all uneaten food, wrappings, containers and cartons in their lunch bags so that parents/guardians know what the child has eaten that day. Implementation If children bring prohibited food or drink into school they will be asked to put it away until after school. If children persist in bringing unhealthy food to school the class teacher will organise a meeting with their parents/guardians to remind them of the Healthy Eating Policy. N.B. Parents/guardians of any child with a medical condition which requires a special diet should contact the school. Roles and Responsibility: Parents/guardians have a responsibility to provide lunches which do not include any of the prohibited foods Children have a responsibility to eat their own lunch, and not to share or trade food or drink with others. Teachers have a responsibility to provide a good example through their own healthy eating habits. The whole school community: staff, parents/guardians, children, will work together to promote the progress of this policy. All are encouraged to discuss and provide feedback on its performance which will be reported back as appropriate to the Principal and staff The overall performance of the policy will be regularly monitored and evaluated by the BoM Ratification and Communication: The BoM ratified the policy at its meeting on 4th December 2018 after it had been drafted, circulated and amended. The policy has been communicated to all staff and children, and has been downloaded on to the school web-site. It will be promoted in the school as part of the SPHE policy.