St Anne s Primary School

Transcription

1 St Anne s Primary School Topic: Healthy Eating and Nutrition Policy Policy Area: Community Originally Released: 2014 Date for Review: RATIONALE A healthy lifestyle is vital to good health at all stages of life but especially in childhood. It is during childhood, particularly in the primary school years, that children develop lifestyle habits that can last a lifetime. It is also at this stage that major growth and development occurs, to which nutrition and a well-balanced diet is fundamental. Concern has mounted recently in Australia over the poor food choices and eating habits of children and adolescents. Research statistics widely reported in the media have raised alarm over the growing obesity problem of the Australian population and in particular children and young people. St Anne s Primary School endeavours to provide an environment that will have a positive impact on nutritional health and promote a healthy lifestyle in our students, staff and parents. Health risks of overweight and obese children include Increased risk of heart disease Diabetes Ill health and early death Learning and behaviour risks of overweight and obese children include lower self-esteem especially teenage girls anxiety and depression social discrimination higher level of physical discomfort (eg. heat intolerance, heat rashes, breathlessness on exertion & aches and pains) deterioration of general health 2. AIMS This Policy aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide a learning environment that will have a positive impact on the nutritional health and wellbeing of the students, staff and parents. In doing so, St Anne s Primary School aims to promote: 2.1 Positive attitudes towards healthy food choices 2.2 Lifestyle practices which can help reduce the incidence of obesity, tooth decay and a number of related diseases 2.3 Personal responsibility for decision making about healthy eating

2 3. SCOPE St Anne s Primary school community 4. PRINCIPLES 4.1 A healthy and nutritious food and drink policy makes a positive statement to students, staff members, parents and the broader community about the value placed on human life. 4.2 It is important that parents, staff members and students work together to support a whole school approach to building a school culture in which students actively choose nutritious food and a healthy lifestyle. 4.3 Nutritional food at affordable prices is the main focus when providing food to students in school communities. 4.4 Healthy canteen choices complement the nutrition knowledge taught in the classroom and promote a school culture of healthy eating that may extend into the wider family and community. 4.5 The school curriculum, along with the family home, is the ideal place for students to learn about nutrition and making healthy food choices. 4.6 School communities and others supplying food in schools comply with the CECWA Occupational Safety and Health in Schools policy in order to provide safe handling, preparation and serving of food. 4.7 School communities express their culture and traditions through events of significance which may include traditional and celebratory food choices. 5. PROCEDURES and OBJECTIVES This policy is informed by the Department Education and Training Healthy Food and Drink Policy which recommends daily availability of healthy foods which are low in fat, salt and sugar, high in fibre and with limitations on the quantity and frequency of less healthy options. The traffic lights system applies in the use of terminology and food selections known as "Everyday Foods" or Green foods and Sometimes foods or Amber foods as opposed to "Red Foods". Therefore 5.1 Children are encouraged and given an opportunity each school day to have Fruit Breaks and eat fruit and vegetables during this time. This aligns to the school s crunch and sip program. 5.2 Children are encouraged to have a water bottle accessible allowing them to drink water throughout the day. 5.3 Parents are encouraged to provide Litter Free or nude food. 5.4 Healthy treats provided at school will comply with Healthy Eating Guidelines with the intention of eliminating extrinsic food incentives (ie.no lollies as rewards). 5.5 Our school is a NUT FRIENDLY school and parents are requested not to send food to school containing nuts. 5.6 Students will receive explicit teaching about healthy food and nutrition as part of the health curriculum.

3 5.7 Parents will be encouraged wherever possible to provide healthy foods that are maintained at a suitable temperature (eg. ice packs or thermos are utilised). 5.8 All food cooked at school as part of class programmes will comply with Healthy Eating Guidelines. (ie. Sometimes food only 2 x per term). 5.9 All food at class parties will reflect a balance of Everyday and Sometimes foods All food consumed on camps and on excursions will comply with the Healthy Eating Guidelines, reflecting a balance of everyday and sometimes foods. PLEASE NOTE: SCHOOL CANTEEN: Volunteers, in collaboration with the Parents and Friend s Association, coordinate the canteen. There is no set menu as such and the canteen is run as a fund raising initiative. It opens for one day, fortnightly throughout the school year. Where possible and with endeavours to align to the Policy, as detailed through the Department of Education and Training, the food and menu choices are to offer a wide range of healthy and nutritious options for students to enjoy. Menus and food choices will be discussed regularly at P and F meetings and endeavour to offer the minimum of 60%; green (everyday); and 40% amber (sometimes) food and drink options, according to the Food traffic light system detailed in the Policy. Additional references to support the P and F run the canteen in line with policy can be found at: Healthy Food and Drink website Western Australian Council of State School Organisations. The Star Choice Buyers Guide The Western Australian School Canteen Association and local health professionals 6. GUIDELINES 6.1 Supervised lunch eating time is provided for 10 minutes daily in a social environment. 6.2 Staff will model positive food choices and not have soft drinks and lollies in class 6.3 The school will adhere to the legislated food safety standards. 6.4 Children's medical needs will be supported. 6.5 Regular support will be provided to families through education about healthy food choices. 6.6 The community will be involved in promoting good nutrition. 6.7 Any outside sponsorship/ organisation will comply with DET s Healthy Eating Guidelines. 6.8 Therefore at St Anne s Primary School soft drinks are not to be consumed by students while at school consumption of lollies and red foods by students are discouraged foods high in fat, salt and sugar are discouraged foods low in sugar, salt, fat, unprocessed and minimally processed foods are encouraged (eg. fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grain bread, cheese, yoghurt Birthdays will be celebrated without red foods or foods high in fat, salt and sugar eg. no lolly bags. Cakes are acceptable

4 6.9 When enrolling a child, parents will be Informed of the Healthy Eating Policy Encouraged to send their child to school with fresh fruit and vegetables and a bottle of water each day Advised of our nut friendly policy Encouraged not to send their child with chips, sweet biscuits and other sometimes foods on a daily basis and not to send food containing nuts to school 7. REFERENCES Bishops of Western Australia 2009, Mandate Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia: The Department of Education and Training, Healthy Food and Drink Policy, Appendix C Western Australian School Canteen Association The Star Choice Buyers Guide available at 7. Western Australian School Canteen Association, The Star Choice Buyers Guide available at RELATED DOCUMENTS CECWA Occupational Safety and Health in Schools policy The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the National Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia (2003) Anaphylaxis Management Guidelines for Schools: Department of Health 2010 accessed at CK1 Canteen.pdf CK2 Canteen Food Act 2008 (WA) Food Regulations 2009 (WA) Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (WA) Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (WA) School Education Act 1999 (WA) Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)

5 9. EVALUATION AND REVIEW HISTORY This policy will be reviewed as part of the school s three-year review cycle or as required. This policy will be published on the St Anne s Catholic Primary School website. REVIEW HISTORY YEAR OF REVIEW REVIEWED BY AMENDEMENTS 2014 Staff Revised 2018 Leadership Reformatted and released NEXT REVIEW YEAR SUB COMMITTEE 2021 Healthy foods team (to be created)