Ballapousta National School

HEALTHY EATING POLICY

Ballapousta National School aims to help all those involved in the school community, (children, staff, and parents) to develop positive and responsible attitudes to eating, and to appreciate the contribution that good food makes to ones health.

Nutrition: 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 have introduced a healthy eating policy which started in March 2004.

DRINKS:
Milk,
Water,
Diluted sugar free squash,
Unsweetened fruit juice.

HEALTHY SNACKS
flapjacks, cheese, fruit, scones/fruitcake, crackers, vegetable sticks,
plain biscuits, dried fruit/nuts, bread sticks, popcorn

MAIN LUNCH:
Sandwiches, rolls, pitta bread, etc with a variety of healthy fillings,
Pizza slices, fruit, vegetables,
Pasta /rice, popcorn

FOODS NOT ALLOWED:
Fizzy drinks (to include fizzy fruit flavoured water, juices, etc)
Chocolate products, sweets
Chocolatebars, crisps (or crisp type snack)
Chewing gum,
Fruit winders

ALL snacks known to be high in sugar, saturated fat, salt, additives and preservatives.



GREEN FLAG SCHOOL - Our green school motto is:
GET GREEN, KEEP GREEN,
MAKE IT INTO A REGULAR ROUTINE!

With this in mind, children are also asked to do the following:

• All uneaten food, silver paper, wrappings, containers and cartons are to be taken home in lunchboxes.
• Only fruit peel to be put into the schools compost bins.
• For safety reasons, cans and glass are not permitted.

To support our policy, children will receive lessons on healthy eating during the school year as part of their SPHE curriculum.
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N.B. Parents/guardians of any child with a medical condition which requires a special diet should contact the school.