Modeligo National School Healthy Eating Policy
As part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme, at Modeligo National School 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 — 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 will revitalise our healthy eating policy starting from September 2021.
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.
Objectives
- To enable the child to appreciate the importance of good nutrition for growing, developing and staying healthy.
- To enable the child to accept some personal responsibility for making wise food choices and adopting a healthy, balanced diet.
Healthy Lunches
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.
The following guide is designed to help you provide quick, appetising, and nutritious lunches for your children:
| Bread & Alternatives | Savouries | Fruit & Vegetables | Drinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread or rolls, preferably wholemeal | Lean meat | Apples, banana, peach | Water in re-useable container |
| Rice — wholegrain | Chicken/Turkey | Orange segments | 2 water drinks if weather hot |
| Pasta — wholegrain | Tinned fish e.g. tuna/sardines | Fruit salad, dried fruit | Yogurt/yogurt drinks |
| Potato salad | Cheese | Plum, pineapple cubes | |
| Wholemeal scones | Quiche | Grapes, cucumber, sweetcorn | |
| Bread sticks | Tomato, coleslaw | ||
| Crackers — wholegrain | |||
| Pitta bread, plain popcorn |
A Word About Milk
Growing children should get approximately one pint of milk a day — either directly as milk or in cheese, milk puddings or yogurts. This ensures that they get enough calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth.
Foods Not Permitted in School
We ask that children do not bring the following to school — snacks known to be high in sugar, saturated fat, salt, additives and preservatives:
- Crisps (including crisp-style snacks)
- Fizzy drinks (including fizzy fruit-flavoured water, juices, etc.)
- Sweets
- Chocolate biscuits/bars
- Cereal bars
- Chewing gum
- Fruit winders
Healthy Lunch Incentives
So as to take a proactive approach to healthy lunches, teachers may reward children who can show a piece of fruit or other healthy foods in their lunchboxes. Awards may also be presented in assemblies. We take part in the "Healthy Food Dudes" project whenever the opportunity presents itself.
A very simple approach to healthy eating is to use the Food Pyramid (see attached).
NB: Parents/guardians of any child with a medical condition which requires a special diet should contact the school.
Treat Day
Friday will be our treat day. On this day, children can include one food item from the 'not permitted' list.
Recycling
Children are encouraged to eat all their lunch food, but are also asked to:
- take home (in lunchbox) all uneaten food, silver paper, wrappings, containers and cartons;
- not bring in cans and glass — for safety reasons.
This policy was ratified by the Board of Management on 25 March 2021.
Chairperson, BoM: Sr. Veronica Casey
This policy will be reviewed in 2023–24.