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
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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
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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
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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
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informed of this
March 2011
Appendix 1
Middleton School
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March 2011