St. Patrick’s NS Lurgybrack – Healthy Eating
“Building healthy eating habits early is very important in preventing obesity and chronic disease in later life. The school environment has an important role to play in supporting the development of lifelong healthy eating.” – HSE Health Promotion Information for Schools.
As I have stated in the September update, I aim to build on the good progress which was made in the area of promoting healthy eating last year. Below is a reminder of our healthy eating policy. Your help and cooperation in this area is very much appreciated.
We encourage children to choose from the following foods regularly;
- Bread
- Pitta bread
- Fruit
- Raw vegetables
- Cheese, lean meat, fish, salads
- Fruit Juice
- Yoghurt & Yoghurt drinks
- Milk
- Water
Friday is our treat day. On this day we can include one piece of food from the following;
- Small bar/cereal bar
- Biscuits
- Buns
- Muffins
The following foods are not allowed in school on any day, even Fridays;
- Crisps of any kind
- Popcorn
- Fizzy drinks
- Sweets, including smarties, skittles, Haribo etc
- Chewing Gum
Roles and Responsibilities:
Parents
- Provide a healthy, well-balanced lunch for their children
- Encourage healthy eating
- Inform the school of any special dietary needs a child may have
- To implement the schools healthy eating policy
Children
- To eat their lunch
- To bring home uneaten food items
- To help make their lunches and remind parents of healthy eating policy
- Not to bring any foods which are not allowed into school
School
- To promote and encourage healthy eating
- To monitor the healthy eating policy and remind children of foods which are and are not allowed to be eaten in school.
Teachers may give a sweet treat on occasions in recognition of work done well or in an effort to promote positive behaviour.
Please note: In order to safe-guard the health of pupils, the following items should not be included in lunch boxes;
Raw eggs
Nuts
- Any product containing nuts (e.g. peanut butter, Nutella etc)
This measure in taken due to the allergies of a number of our pupils. Your co-operation in this regard is greatly appreciated.
