Healthy Eating and Living Guidelines
Rationale for these guidelines:
Our Lady of Mercy Convent School through these guidelines aims to help
all those involved in our school community - children, staff and parents - in
developing positive and responsible attitudes to eating, exercise, dental care;
and, in particular, to appreciate the contribution that good food makes to healthy
living. What people eat is known to be one of the key factors influencing their
health and performance. The taught curriculum provides an opportunity to teach
about food and healthy lifestyles.
The Guidelines:
1. A healthy lunchbox (for two breaks combined) includes a piece of food from
each of the bottom four shelves of the food pyramid. As promoted by the student
Council, the first break is primarily a ‘Fruit and Veg break’.
2. Every Friday is a treat day (optional). On this day, and on other special
occasions, we can include a snack-size treat from the top shelf of the food
pyramid. On all other days, some of the more healthy ‘favourites’ that we
encourage include popcorn, fruit, vegetable sticks, raisins, cheese, yogurts, pasta,
plain rice cakes, crackers, bread sticks, scones, flap jacks and plain biscuits.
3. A number of our students have serious allergies to nuts. Hence, in the
interest of their well-being, nuts and/or foods containing nuts (e.g. peanut butter,
chocolate spread, nut yogurts etc.) should not be included in the girls’
lunchboxes. For this reason (and others), no cakes/treats should be sent in on
birthdays.
4. Cans and glasses are not permitted for safety and litter reasons. Healthier
choices of drink include water, milk and unsweetened juice, but water is highly
recommended, especially for dental care.
5. Wrappers on lunch items should be kept to a minimum and re-used/recycled
to reduce litter and to protect our school environment.
6. Teachers, S.N.A.s and older pupils assist young children with their lunch.
7. Staff provide positive modelling and supportive attitudes to encourage
healthy eating and living.
8. All classes regularly participate in lessons on healthy eating. Similarly, dental
care and healthy living are part of the school’s SESE and SPHE curricula.
9. Opportunity is given to all parents/guardians to actively participate in the on-
going review and activities relating to our guidelines on healthy eating and living.
10. Every 2 years, a Healthy Eating and Living Awareness week is organised and
the Healthy Eating and Living Guidelines are reviewed
11. The school promotes active and healthy living (refer to school PE plan).
Our Lady of Mercy Convent School through these guidelines aims to help
all those involved in our school community - children, staff and parents - in
developing positive and responsible attitudes to eating, exercise, dental care;
and, in particular, to appreciate the contribution that good food makes to healthy
living. What people eat is known to be one of the key factors influencing their
health and performance. The taught curriculum provides an opportunity to teach
about food and healthy lifestyles.
The Guidelines:
1. A healthy lunchbox (for two breaks combined) includes a piece of food from
each of the bottom four shelves of the food pyramid. As promoted by the student
Council, the first break is primarily a ‘Fruit and Veg break’.
2. Every Friday is a treat day (optional). On this day, and on other special
occasions, we can include a snack-size treat from the top shelf of the food
pyramid. On all other days, some of the more healthy ‘favourites’ that we
encourage include popcorn, fruit, vegetable sticks, raisins, cheese, yogurts, pasta,
plain rice cakes, crackers, bread sticks, scones, flap jacks and plain biscuits.
3. A number of our students have serious allergies to nuts. Hence, in the
interest of their well-being, nuts and/or foods containing nuts (e.g. peanut butter,
chocolate spread, nut yogurts etc.) should not be included in the girls’
lunchboxes. For this reason (and others), no cakes/treats should be sent in on
birthdays.
4. Cans and glasses are not permitted for safety and litter reasons. Healthier
choices of drink include water, milk and unsweetened juice, but water is highly
recommended, especially for dental care.
5. Wrappers on lunch items should be kept to a minimum and re-used/recycled
to reduce litter and to protect our school environment.
6. Teachers, S.N.A.s and older pupils assist young children with their lunch.
7. Staff provide positive modelling and supportive attitudes to encourage
healthy eating and living.
8. All classes regularly participate in lessons on healthy eating. Similarly, dental
care and healthy living are part of the school’s SESE and SPHE curricula.
9. Opportunity is given to all parents/guardians to actively participate in the on-
going review and activities relating to our guidelines on healthy eating and living.
10. Every 2 years, a Healthy Eating and Living Awareness week is organised and
the Healthy Eating and Living Guidelines are reviewed
11. The school promotes active and healthy living (refer to school PE plan).
