Lessons on healthy eating form an important part of the S.P.H.E. Curriculum in Irish primary schools. To complement this, here in Scoil Bhríde we have a healthy eating policy which aims to promote the health and well-being of the pupils and to encourage healthy food choices in the children’s lunchboxes. In this section of our school website we have included information and links which we hope will be useful in promoting healthy lunches in Scoil Bhríde. If you would like to see the full version of our healthy eating policy it can be viewed here.
What does a healthy lunch look like?
The following are suggestions for quick and nutritious lunches:
- Drinks: Water, milk.
- Bread and alternatives: Bread, rolls, wraps, pitta bread, pasta, potato salad, wholemeal scones, breadsticks, crackers, rice cakes (plain or with a healthy topping).
- Fruit and vegetables: Fruit, berries, cucumber, sweetcorn, tomatoes, carrot sticks, coleslaw.
- Savouries: Lean meat, chicken ,turkey, tinned fish, cheese, yoghurt, vegetarian sausage, hummus, beans.
The H.S.E.’s Healthy Lunchboxes leaflet gives some helpful information, including information on food safety when preparing lunches. The leaflet can be viewed here.
The Food Pyramid
The Food Pyramid provides a sample guide to healthy eating. A healthy, balanced lunch should, if possible, include a variety of foods from the bottom four shelves of the pyramid. Click on the picture below to see it in more detail.
What foods should not be brought to school?
Due to allergies in the school, nuts or foods that contain nuts (e.g. Nutella) should never be brought into the school. In addition to this, foods that are known to be high in sugar, saturated fat, salt, additives and preservatives do not fit in with our healthy eating policy and should not be brought to school. This includes many items that we would think of as ‘treats’ or ‘snack foods’ such as:
- Sugary drinks, e.g. fizzy drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks, etc.
- Chewing/bubble gum
- Crisps or popcorn
- Chocolate or anything containing chocolate.
- Sweets, lollipops, Fruit Winders, etc.
- Biscuits, bars, cereal bars, etc.
- Muffins, cakes, buns
Recipe ideas
Making a healthy lunch doesn’t have to be complicated. However, if you feel like trying something new, the following websites contain information and recipe ideas which you might like to try:
https://www.safefood.eu/Publications/Consumer-info/Healthy-lunchboxes.aspx