CLOONTUSKERT N.S
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​    
Healthy Lunch Policy
Aim:
As part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme, at Cloontuskert NS we encourage the 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 (e.g. 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).
 
To promote healthy eating habits in our school, we introduced a healthy eating policy.
 
 Aims
  1. To promote the personal development and well-being of the child
  2. To promote the health of the child and provide a foundation for healthy living in all its aspects.
 
 Objectives
  1. To enable the child to appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing and developing and staying healthy
  2. 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 but some find it difficult to come up with popular healthy alternatives. We ask you to encourage a healthy lunch right from the start.
 
Healthy Lunch Options:
We encourage children to choose from the following foods regularly
  • Bread/scones
  • Pitta bread
  • Fruit
  • Raw vegetables/Salads
  • Cheese, lean meat, eggs, fish,
  • Fruit Juice
  • Yoghurt Drinks
  • Milk
  • Water
  • Soup
 
 
Treat Foods
We recommend foods such as:
  • Fresh fruit
  • Raisins
  • Yogurt or Yogurt drinks
  • Wholegrain/ Digestive biscuits
 
A very simple approach to healthy eating is to use the Food Pyramid:
 
                                   Fats
                                 Sugar                       Sparingly
                             Sweets etc.
 
                              Meat, Fish                            2 portions per day
                             Peas/Beans                                                                           
                         
                             Milk, Cheese                 3+ portions per day
                                Yoghurt                   
 
                         Fruit & Vegetables             4+ portions per day 
             
                        Bread, Cereals & Potatoes    6+ portions per day
 
The 4 Cs are not allowed :
Chewing Gum, Crisps, Chocolate bars, Candy
 
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 candy to school
 
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 chewing gum, crisps, chocolate bars or candy to school
 
Role of School:
  • To promote and encourage healthy eating.
  • If children bring chewing gum, crisps, chocolate bars or candy to school they will not be allowed to eat them while in school. If children have these foods and no other food or no food for their lunch arrangements for food will be made by the staff of the school for these children. 
 
Implementation:
This policy will be implemented from 1st March 2016
 
A copy of The Healthy Food Pyramid will be on display in the school and will be referred to regularly.
 
As part of the Social Personal and Health Education curriculum reasons for healthy eating will be discussed with the children regularly by staff.
 
Teachers will continue to give children a sweet treat on occasions  in recognition of work done, improvements in work or behaviour and in an effort to promote positive behaviour. Sweet treats used prudently by teachers will not interfere with the health of children.
 
 
 
N.B. Parents/guardians of any child with a medical condition which requires a special diet should contact the school.
 
 

 
 
Principal: Padraig Connerton  |      Email: cloontuskertns63@gmail.com |     Tel: 043 3321817 |     © Scoil Na Mainistreach, Cloontuskert.