Healthy Packed Lunch Policy Ratified By Governors……………………………………… 8 March 2011 Middleton School 1 March 2011 Middleton Packed Lunch Policy Middleton School has a Healthy School status and as such we would encourage all pupils to take advantage of a school meal. We are however aware that some parents/carers prefer to send their child to school with a packed lunch. Overall aim of the policy To ensure that all packed lunches brought from home and consumed in school (or on school trips) provide the pupil with healthy and nutritious food that is similar to food served in schools, which is now regulated by national standards. To encourage our pupils to make healthier packed lunch choices and have an understanding of why they should do so. How and why the policy was formulated The Packed Lunch Policy was formulated through consultation with the staff and school council, parent questionnaires and open stall at Christmas Fete. As a result the Governing Body approved the development of the Policy in Spring Term 2008 Why To make a positive contribution to children’s health and Healthy Schools Status. To encourage a happier and calmer population of children and young people. To develop a healthier approach by pupils to food through informed choices. To promote consistency between packed lunches and food provided by schools which must adhere to national standards set by the government. Please visit www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk for more information. To contribute to the self-evaluation for review by Ofsted. National guidance The policy was drawn up using a range of national documents including information and a draft policy from the School Food Trust, the Food in schools toolkit (Department of Health) and Food policy in schools – a strategic policy framework for governing bodies (National Governors’ Council, (NGC) 2005). Where, when and to whom the policy applies To all pupils and parents providing packed lunches to be consumed within school or on school trips during normal school hours. Food and drink in packed lunches: what the policy states 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 stop the food going off. Wherever possible the school will ensure that packed lunch pupils and school dinner pupils will be able to sit and eat together. Middleton School 2 March 2011 Please see Appendix 1 for examples of healthy packed lunch foods Packed Lunches should include Packed Lunch foods that are acceptable but only occasionally At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables every day. Snacks such as crisps. * Meat, fish or other source of non-dairy protein (e.g. lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, hummus and falafel) every day Include seeds (not nuts), vegetables and fruit (with no added salt, sugar or fat). Savoury crackers or breadsticks served with fruit, vegetables or dairy food are also a good choice. Oily fish, such as salmon, at least once every three weeks. A starchy food such as any type of bread, pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, potatoes or other type of cereals every day. Packed Lunch foods that should not be included Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned meat and sausages / chipolatas one portion should be included only occasionally one portion Cakes and biscuits are allowed but encourage your child to eat these only as part of a balanced meal Dairy food such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard every day. Only water, fruit juice, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, yoghurt or milk drinks and smoothies. A variety of foods throughout the week including different textures and tastes. Middleton School 3 March 2011 Special diets and allergies We are a nut free school, due to the numerous nut allergies present in our environment. It is important that no food be brought into school which obviously contains nuts of any kind. Most food packages say ’may contain nuts’ but if nuts are not part of the main ingredients then this is acceptable, as long as your child does not have a nut allergy. We are a chocolate free school which means that chocolate bars should not be present in any packed lunch. The school also recognises that some pupils may require special diets that do not allow for the standards to be met exactly. In this case parents are urged to be responsible in ensuring that packed lunches are as healthy as possible. For these reasons pupils are also not permitted to swap food items. Assessment, evaluation and reviewing: Assessment Children will discuss their lunch choices with the adult on their lunch table. We are aware that the children may not eat everything in their lunch as new food choices can be daunting. School staff are experienced in supporting the introduction of new foods to encourage a balanced diet. We intend to reward the acceptance of the new food in their packed lunch and attempts to eat them, rather than unhealthy choices previously made. Healthy lunches will be rewarded by a lunch reward system. We recognise that many of our children have issues regarding food and that parents may find it helpful to be supported in changing the choices their children make for packed lunch. As such we will reward the children for healthy lunches and discuss any unhealthy choices they have made. We will not stop the children from eating those items (unless they are nuts or chocolate bars) but we will encourage the children to make a healthier choice for the next day. If parents feel there is a special reason for their child eating a certain item, for example a history of difficulties with food, then they are encouraged to discuss this with the class teacher. Evaluation and reviewing The children will be engaged in and understand the systems of the packed lunch policy and will be making healthier choices in their packed lunches. Parent Council will be asked for their thoughts on the new policy in the Spring Term to see if they have found the policy helpful in guiding their children’s choices for lunch. Following this process and discussions with Middleton staff, the policy will be reviewed in the Spring Term then every three years. Involvement of parents/carers: Pupils are normally expected to eat the lunch provided by the school. However, parents of pupils wishing to have packed lunches for a particular reason are expected to provide their children with packed lunches which follow the packed lunch policy. In turn, the school will try and support parents in encouraging their children to be open to new, healthier food. Linked policies: List all of the school’s policies that are relevant to healthier eating. E.g. food technology, PSHCE, science, technology. Middleton School 4 March 2011 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 and will be incorporated into the school prospectus. The school will use opportunities such as parents evenings and Healthy Living weeks to promote this policy as part of a whole school approach to healthier eating. All school staff, including teaching and catering staff and the school nurse, will be policy and will support its implementation. Middleton School 5 informed of this March 2011 Appendix 1 Middleton School 6 March 2011