Bradshaw Primary School Healthy Lunch Box Policy

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1 Bradshaw Primary School Healthy Lunch Box Policy Policy Date: 19/07/2016 This policy should be read alongside the schools PSHCE, Science and Whole School Food policies.

2 Overall Aim of the Policy To ensure that packed lunches brought from home and consumed in school (or on school trips) provide the pupil with a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet. Why the policy was formulated The government has placed a duty on schools to ensure that every child is healthy and have invested hugely in improved school meals, free fruit for schools (for children in KS1 and EYFS) and The School Food Plan which encourages healthy eating. The trust recommends we have a policy and this one is based on their model. This policy has been written following consultation with parents, pupils, staff and governors. Eating healthily is important because it will help children to: Be fitter and healthier now and later in life. Learn more quickly and behave better. School meals conform to government nutritional guidelines with less sugar, fat and salt and more fresh fruit and vegetables. School lunches also provide a good balance of complex carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, bread or potatoes with dairy and other protein foods. There is no reason why a packed lunch cannot provide the same nutrition as a cooked meal. Please visit for more information 2

3 Where, when and to whom the policy applies: To all pupils and parents/carers providing packed lunches to be eaten within school or on school trips during normal school hours from September 2016 Food and drink in packed lunches The policy The school will provide facilities for pupils bringing in packed lunches and ensure that free, fresh drinking water is readily available at all times. The school will work with the pupils to provide attractive and appropriate dining room arrangements. The school will work with parents to ensure that packed lunches abide by the standards listed below. As fridge space is not available in school, pupils are advised to bring packed lunches in insulated bags with freezer blocks where possible to keep the food cool. Children must only eat their own food and not other children s. Nut or nut products are not permitted due to allergies 3

4 Guidance Packed lunches should include: o One portion of fruit every day (not pre-packaged fruit salads in syrup). o One portion of vegetables every day. o Meat, fish or other source of non-dairy protein (e.g. lentils, beans, soya or hummus) every day (usually as part of a sandwich, wrap or salad). o Oily fish, such as salmon or tuna occasionally (once every 3 weeks). o A starchy food such as brown/wholemeal bread, pasta, rice, noodles, couscous or potatoes (used as a salad) every day. o Dairy food such as cheese, low fat yoghurt or fromage frais. Packed lunches can include one of these food items on a Friday as a treat for eating healthily during the week but not every day and only as part of a balanced meal. o buns o plain biscuits o Snack-a-Jacks o Crisps o Chocolate based desserts e.g. Dairy Milk Button desserts. Packed lunches should not include: o Chocolate covered confectionery and sweets. o Drinks of any kind. Fresh drinking water is provided by the school. o Snacks such as crisps. o Meat and pastry products such as sausage rolls, pies or pasties. o Nuts or nut products (although they can be healthy) because of the danger to other children with allergies. 4

5 Special Diets/Allergies The school recognises that some pupils may have verified medical conditions requiring special diets or cultural/religious beliefs which may impact on diet. These may not allow for the standards to be met exactly. In this case parents/carers are urged to be responsible in ensuring that packed lunches are as healthy as possible. NOTE For these reasons, pupils are not permitted to: o Swap food items. o Bring in nuts or nut based products in packed lunches. Example packed lunch menu A week s packed lunch menu might look like this: Monday o Tuna and sweetcorn pasta salad, red pepper sticks, apple slices and plain yoghurt. Tuesday o Chicken and potato with salad, Mini Babybel, carrot sticks, satsuma. Wendesday o Cheese salad wrap, celery sticks, banana and raisins. Thursday o Egg salad sandwich, cherry tomatoes, seasonal fruit salad with fromage frais. Friday o Chickpea vegetable couscous salad, strawberries, one treat item (e.g. blueberry muffin, crisps, chocolate dessert). Water will be served in the dinner hall daily 5

6 Suggestions for fruit and vegetables Vegetables: Carrot, cucumber, pepper or celery sticks, tomatoes, grated carrot in sandwiches or wraps, sweetcorn, peas or pulses (lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans) in salads. Fruit: Sliced apple or melon, plums, grapes, strawberries, kiwi, satsumas, chunks of pineapple, homemade fruit salad. Assessment, evaluation and reviewing Packed lunches are reviewed by lunchtime staff as part of their supervision of the children. Please note: Pupils with special diets will be given due consideration. We rely on parents/carers to support this policy and work with the school to ensure that their children are provided with a balanced healthy lunchbox. A pertinent quote from a parent: Perhaps it isn t the fact there are unhealthy snacks but the lack of healthy ones as a counterbalance. If a child regularly brings a packed lunch that does not conform to the policy, then the school will contact the parents to discuss this. 6

7 Rewards The real incentive for parents to adhere to this policy has been very eloquently put by this parental quote: The incentive should be their children having a healthy, balanced lifestyle. However, children respond to rewards and to encourage them to bring a healthy lunchbox from Monday to Thursday, children can bring a packet of crisps OR a chocolate treat in their lunchbox on a FRIDAY. Children eating healthy lunches will be rewarded by e.g. stickers, certificates, smileys and other awards such as sitting at the Top Table. Dissemination of the policy The school will write to all new and existing parents/carers to inform them of the policy via the school newsletter. The policy will be available on the school s website. The school will use opportunities such as parents evenings to promote this policy as part of a whole school approach to healthier eating. All school staff, including teaching and catering staff, will be informed of this policy and will support its implementation. 7

8 Monitoring and Review This policy will be monitored by the Focus on Food group and will also be available to parents for comment. There will be a termly review to the governing body. If you would like to make any comments about the policy, please feel free to contact Mr Wilson or Miss Robinson. Date of implementation: September 2016 Date for Review: September 2017 Signed: 8