Bishop Foley Memorial National School, Carlow
BISHOP FOLEY SCHOOL:
HEALTHY EATING POLICY
Through this policy the school aims to help all those in our school community; children, staff and parents in developing positive and responsible attitudes to eating and to appreciate the contribution that good food makes to health.
IT IS THE AGREED POLICY OF SCHOOL THAT:
- Healthy lunches be encouraged and sweets, bars, fizzy drinks, crisps , chocolate, biscuits and cakes will not be allowed.
- A healthy lunchbox includes a piece of food from each of the bottom four shelves of the Food Pyramid, e.g. ham sandwich, carton of orange juice and strawberry yoghurt.
- Cans and glasses are not permitted for safety and litter reasons. Healthier choices for drinks include water, milk and unsweetened fruit juice.
- Foods, which have wrappers, are best kept to a minimum and disposed of properly to protect the school environment.
To help highlight awareness of healthy school lunches the following will take place.
- At the beginning of each school term teachers and pupils will discuss healthy eating.
- During the year all classes will receive a lesson on healthy eating.
- Teachers will provide positive modelling and supportive attitudes to encourage healthy eating.
THE FOOD PYRAMID.
The Food Pyramid, which is studied at school, recommends the following:
- 6 portions a day of carbohydrates (eg. cereals, bread, pasta and potatoes).
- 4 portions a day of fruit and vegetables.
- portion = an apple or a mug of vegetable soup.
- 3 portions a day of dairy products.
1 portion = a yoghurt or cheese string.
- 2 portions a day of protein (eg. meat, fish, nuts and eggs).
1 portion = a chicken or peanut butter sandwich.
While it is a good idea to vary the food from day to day, if there is a healthy food your son enjoys and wants to eat every day, let him.
Encourage him to try different foods before allowing him to say he doesn’t like it. Even if he says he doesn’t like a particular food try him with it again in a couple of months. Children’s tastes change!.
Healthy Eating Policy
We recommend: Sandwiches, scones, crackers, meat slices, cheese slices, yoghurts, fruit, popcorn, vegetables, fruit juices in a bottle, water and milk.
We do not allow: sweets, chewing gum, cereal bars, chocolate, crisps, biscuits, buns or muffins.
Recycling: As part of our green schools initiative we recommend that children use a reusable drink container. Cans, cartons and glass bottles are not allowed.
We would appreciate your co operation in this as we have noted a huge improvement in the number of children eating fruit but in particular vegetables.