HEALTHY EATING RESOURCES

All schools are encouraged to advocate a consistent message about healthy eating, as per the ‘Food in Schools Policy’. This means all food and drink provided and consumed within the education setting should be nutritious and of good quality.  School meals are a great choice, however if parents decide to provide a packed lunch, or morning break or snack, the following guidance, from the Public Health Agency may be useful for healthy eating tips and ideas:

Are You Packing a Healthy Lunch?

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/are-you-packing-healthy-lunch-english-and-irish-translation

Healthy Breaks for Schools

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/healthy-breaks-schools-leaflet-english-and-irish-translation

Healthy Choices – Choose Wisely: advice for parents on nutrition and activity for primary school children

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/healthy-choices-choose-wisely-advice-parents

As a school we operate a ‘Healthy Break’ policy.  Fruit, raw vegetables, a yoghurt, bread based snacks or ideas, from the PHA’s ‘Healthy Breaks for Schools’, should be brought to school each day. 

HEALTHY LUNCHBOX TIPS

DENI has issued some guidance for parents regarding Healthy Lunchboxes.  The following ten top healthy lunchbox tips may be helpful as we all run out of ideas sometimes:

1. Base the main part of the lunch on starchy foods like bread, cereal, rice, pasta or potatoes.
2. Get creative with some alternatives to sandwiches e.g. wholemeal pita pockets, tortilla wraps or pasta salads.
3. Include some protein such as lean meat, chicken, tuna, ham, cheese, egg or hummus.
4. Aim to have at least one fruit or vegetable based food or drink in the lunchbox to count towards your child’s five-a-day.
5. Children need to eat regularly to maintain energy levels, so don’t forget to include a snack.  These might include fruit, crackers with cheese, yoghurt, samosa, chapatti, scone or a fruit bun.
6. Add a portion of semi-skimmed milk or other dairy food such as cheese or fromage-frais.
7. Fluids are an important part of a child’s diet.  Try a variety of different drinks such as a carton of fruit juice, water, yoghurt or milk drink.
8. Try the mini-sized versions of your child’s favourite foods – a healthy lunchbox does not mean giving up all the foods children enjoy.
9. Check out the Guideline Daily Amount information on the front of many food products and experiment with some different choices.
10. Pop a cool pack in the lunchbox to keep it cool.

WATER IN SCHOOL

Thank you to all those parents who have been sending water into school each day.  Drinking water is an important part of our healthy eating policy and it keeps all our pupils well hydrated.  Please ensure water is sent to school in sipper bottles to help avoid spillages and unnecessary distractions during the school day. 

If your child wants a drink of juice rather than water during the day, then we would ask you to pack an extra drink for lunchtime only. Thanks for your co-operation.