Scoil Náisiúnta Seanbhaile

Nutrition Policy

Aims: To make the whole school community aware of the importance of healthy eating.
To support all parents/guardians in helping their children make healthy food choices.
Background: This policy was developed as part of the ongoing process of becoming a Health Promoting School. It takes on board information from the whole school lunch-box survey and suggestions from the staff/ parent surveys.
Review: This policy will be reviewed every two years.

1. Children are encouraged to bring at least 1 food from each of the bottom 4 shelves of the food pyramid to ensure a balanced lunch.
2. Each day children may bring only one food from the top shelf. This would be at the discretion of each family.
3. Each Friday will be a "Fruity Friday" and the children will be encouraged to bring extra fruit on that day instead of a food from the top shelf.
4. Ideally, food should be eaten in the classroom before going outside to play.
5. As outlined in the school rules:
a) Parents are expected to provide a nutritious lunch for their children (No child should arrive without having had a good breakfast)
b) Glass bottles and cans are not allowed, neither are "fizzy drinks" allowed.
c) All-sweet lunches* and packets of savouries, i.e. Taytos, Munchies etc. are not acceptable, neither is chewing gum.
6. At the end of term and on special occasions, exceptions may be made to the above guidelines.
Foods from the top shelf of the Food Pyramid may be given in school at each teacher's discretion.