Through these guidelines St. Nicholas N.S., aims to help all those involved in our school community in developing positive and responsible attitudes to eating and to appreciate the contribution that good food makes to health.
- Parents should ensure that children have a balanced breakfast to help them learn and concentrate better in school.
- A healthy lunch box contains foods from the bottom four shelves of the food pyramid.
- Some of the healthy snacks that this school encourages for break time include fruit, yoghurt, crackers and/or cheese. Chewy/sticky bars, cereal bars and sweets are not advisable at any time.
- Healthier choices of drinks include plain water (tap) and unflavoured milk. Pure unsweetened juices or well diluted sugar free squashes (1:8) may be included but only as part of their main lunch meal, to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Other drinks such as sweetened fruit juices, fruit drinks, squashes, fizzy drinks (including diet drinks, flavoured water and sparkling water) should be avoided due to their sugar and/or acid content, as these are also harmful to teeth.
- Cans, glasses, chewing gum, peanuts are not permitted. Foods, which have wrappers should be kept to a minimum and disposed of properly to reduce litter and protect our school environment.
- Nutrition and healthy eating will be included as part of the school curriculum.
- Teachers and staff will provide positive modelling and support attitudes to encourage healthy eating.
- Teachers and lunch supervisors will assist young children with their lunch.
- All pupils are encouraged to bring in plain milk (with name tag attached) and avail of fresh fruit in schools scheme where available.
- A ‘Healthy Eating/Nutrition Awareness Week’ will be held annually as an incentive to encourage healthy eating at school and at home. The ‘Healthy Eating Guidelines’ will be reviewed on an annual basis and the policy will be framed and displayed in a prominent position in the school.