Healthier lunch boxes

Contents

Introduction 3

Benefitsofpromotinghealthierlunchboxes 3

Whatshouldbeinahealthierlunchbox? 4

Stepbystepplan 6

Healthierlunchboxchecklist 14

Integratingwithotherschoolfoodprojects 15

Curriculumlinks 17

References 18

Sourcesoffurtherinformation 20

Introduction Benefits of promoting healthier lunch boxes

Thishealthierlunchbox

guidancehighlightseasy

waysforyourschoolto

promotehealthierfoodand

drinkchoicesinlunchboxes.

Itlooksathowyoucanwork

withparentsandcarers,and

thewiderschoolcommunity,

toensurethatconsistent

foodandnutritionmessages

arecommunicated.

Allmealsprovidedtoschool

childrenmustcomplywith

thenutritionalstandardsfor

schoollunches.1Youcan

supportthesestandardsby

lookingathowtheycanbe

translatedacrosstohealthier

lunchboxesinyourschool.

Promotinghealthierlunchboxescan:

•encouragepupils’interestinmakinghealthierchoicesabout theirdiet;

•supporttheDepartmentofEducation’snutritionalstandardsfor schoollunches;

•encourageawholeschoolapproachtohealthyeating;

•increasethecontactbetweenschoolandhome;

•supportyourschool’scommunitylinks;

•giveparentsrelevantinformationonaspectsoffoodandhealth.

Why focus on healthier lunchboxes?

Alunchboxprovidesavaluablecontributiontowardsachild’snutritionalrequirementsforaday.AccordingtotheDepartmentofEducation’s2008schoolcensus,over127,000childreninNorthernIreland(42%ofpupilspresent)tookapackedlunchtoschool.2

Anall-islandstudy(2005)lookingatthenutritionalbalanceofover2,500schoolchildren’spackedlunchesfoundthat9outofevery10lunchboxes(92%)containedfoodshighinfatandsugar.3Almosthalfofallpackedlunches(47%)hadnoportionsoffruitandvegetableandovertwothirdsoflunchboxes(71%)didnotmeetthecompulsoryschoolmealsstandardsforNorthernIreland.

SimilarresearchconductedbytheFoodStandardsAgencyin2004alsoindicatedthatchildrenwhotakeapackedlunchtoschoolareeatingfartoomuchfat,saturatedfat,saltandsugarinonemeal.4Thesurveyalsorevealedthatunderafifthoflunchboxes(16%)didnotcontainanystarchyfoodsuchassandwiches,pastaorrice,andthatjustunderhalfthelunchboxessurveyed(48%)didnotcontainaportionoffruitorchoppedvegetables.Threeoutoffourlunchboxes(74%)alsofailedtomeetthenutritionalstandardssetin2001forEngland’sschoolsmeals.

Clearly,thereisaneedtomakelunchboxeshealthierandmoreappetisingtopupils.Butthisdoesnotmeanthattheyshouldmissoutonallthethingsthattheyenjoyeating.Varietyisthekeytoahealthierlunchbox.Itisallaboutgettingabalanceandagoodvarietyoffoodsoveraperiodoftime,forexampleaweek.Nosinglefoodcanprovidealltheessentialnutrientsthatthebodyneeds.

3

What should be in a healthier lunch box?

Ahealthierlunchboxshouldbebasedontheeatwellplatefoodgroups(seewww.eatwell.gov.uk),

whichpromotebalanceandvarietyinthediet.Parentsandpupilsshouldtrytoincludesomething

fromeachoftheeatwellfoodgroupsinthelunchboxandensurethatthisincludesadrink.

Brightandcolourfulfoodswithdifferenttastesandtexturesshouldbeencouraged.Fruitand

vegetablesdothisnaturally.Ifthefoodlooksgoodthenthechancesarethatchildrenwillwantto

tryit.

Therearemanywaystokeepthelunchboxexciting,forexampleadoptacolourthemeforeach

day,takeinspirationfromholidaysordifferentcountriesandfoodsthatareinseasonorgrownin

theschoolorhomegarden.

Foods that a healthy lunch box should include

• Agoodportionofstarchyfood,forexamplewholemealrollorbread,wraps,pittapocket,

pastaorricesalad.

• Plentyoffruitandvegetables,forexampleanapple,satsuma,handfulofcherrytomatoesor

carrotsticks,mini-canoffruitchunksinnaturaljuiceorasmallboxofraisins.

• Adrinkofsemi-skimmedmilkoraportionofdairyfood,forexampleindividualcheeseportion

orpotofyogurt.

• Aportionofleanmeat,fish,eggsorbeans,forexampleham,chicken,beef,tuna,eggor

hummus.

• Adrink,forexampleunsweetenedfruitjuice,semi-skimmedmilkorwater.

Foods that should be limited

Remember,foodshighinfatandsugarshouldberestricted.Nutritionalstandardsforschools

lunchesdonotallowsweets,chocolateorsavourysnackssuchascrisps,fizzydrinksandother

highsugardrinkstobeservedatlunchtimes.1Anylunchboxguidanceorpolicyshouldreflect

this.Treatscanbeincludedatlunchtime;however,plainorlowersugarvarietiesshouldbe

encouraged.

Formoreinformationonwhattohaveinalunchboxrefertothe‘Schoolfood:topmarks’lunch

boxleaflet,Are you packing a healthy lunch?(availableatwww.publichealth.hscni.net).

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Case study

Oneschoolnutritionactiongroup(SNAG)ataprimaryschoolhasbuiltonitspreviouswork

ofinvolvingthewholeschoolcommunityinhealthissuesbysettingupahealthierlunchbox

challengeday.Thedayincludedamassivepicnicontheschoolfieldwithpupils,staff,parents

andinvitedguests,includingthelocalMP.Itwasalivelyandenjoyablesocialoccasion.

“We would definitely repeat this event, even though it was a lot of work and organisation.

Children, staff and parents have responded positively and everyone has done their bit to make

the day a success. Certainly the children are more knowledgeable now about healthier eating

and making food choices and I think the staff and parents are too.”Headteacher

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Are you packing a healthy lunch?

Step by step plan

Ashealthierlunchboxesareanimportantaspectoffoodanddrinkprovisioninyourschool,

agoodstartistothinkaboutthemaspartofyourwholeschoolapproach.Lunchboxissues

shouldbeconsideredbytheschoolcouncilorSNAG,particularlyinvolvingpupilsandparents.

Awholeschoolapproachallowsyouto:

•outlinetoparents,staffandpupilstheschool’sexpectationsofwhatconstitutesahealthier

lunchbox;

•helpparentsandpupilsputtogetheralunchboxwhichishealthierandrealistic;

•setupastandard,consistentapproachtotheissueoffoodinyourschool;

• promotethefactthatyourschooltakesthehealthofitspupilsseriously.

To do

Tofindoutwhatisrequiredyoucouldconductanauditoflunchboxcontentsbeforeyoustart

yourhealthierlunchboxpromotion.Theauditwillgiveyouabaselinefromwhichyoucanseeif

anychangesoccurasaresultofpromotinghealthierlunchboxes.

Askpupilswhohavealunchboxtowritedownthecontentsoftheirlunchboxforaday.

Analysetheresponses.Theresultswillhighlighttheleastandmostconsumedfoodgroups

andmightindicatethatyouneedtoplaceanemphasisonencouragingpupilstoeatmore

fruitandvegetablesorhaveadrinkatlunchtime.

Usetheinformationtoplanandundertakeyourhealthierlunchboxactivities.

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1. Getting started

Whenplanninghealthierlunchboxactivities,youneedtoensurethatyoucommunicatea

consistentmessagetoeveryoneinvolvedinyourschool.Byusingthe‘Schoolfood:topmarks’

lunchboxleafletandotherresourcesyouwillensurethatconsistenthealthyeatingmessages

aboutlunchboxescanbedeliveredthroughoutyourschool.

Pupilsliketobeinvolvedinmakingchoices,sowhynotencouragethemtohelp?Atschoolthis

mightinvolvemakinglunchboxitemsortryingnewfoodsaspartofahealthyeatingtopic.At

home,pupilscouldbeencouragedtohelpwiththefoodshoppingorhelpmakethecontentsof

theirlunchboxwhereverpossible.

You could try …

•Ahealthierlunchboxassembly.

•Ahealthierlunchboxbuffetforparents,childrenandlocalorganisations.

•Runningathemedayatschooltomotivateparentsandpupils.Youcouldtrya‘FruitFriday’,a

‘Redfoodday’,anon-sandwichdayora‘FunkyfoodFriday’.

•Implementingawholeschoolhealthdayorweek.Youcouldfocusonallaspectsofhealth,

includingphysicalactivity.

•Includingtoptipsforparentsabouthealthierlunchboxesinyourschoolnewsletter,website,

prospectusorbrochure.

•Seekingparents’andpupils’opinionsabouthealthierlunchboxes.Whatsupportwouldthey

like?Thiscouldbeidentifiedthroughasimplequestionnaireorataparents’evening.

•Explainingtoparentsandpupilswhatyouwanttoachieveandwhy.Forexample,youwant

toensurethatallthechildreninyourschoolarefitandhealthy.

•Stressingtheimportanceofabalancedandvarieddiet.Donotbancertainfooditems(unless

ongroundsofsafety,forexamplepeanutsandrisktoallergysufferers).Bepositiveandpromote

bestpractice.Oneapproachmightbetopromoteahealthierlunchboxchecklistforparents.

•Focusingonfoodsafety.Giveideasandtipsonhowtokeeplunchboxesanddrinksbottles

cleanandsafe.

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2. Raise awareness

Step by step plan

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Parentsplayanimportantandinfluentialroleindeterminingtheirchild’sfoodanddrink

choicesandpreferences.Informationtoparentsneedstobeconsistent,helpfulandrealistic.

Approacheswilldifferbetweenprimaryandpost-primaryschools,butultimatelythegoalisthe

same–topromoteahealthylifestyle.

Itisimportanttocommunicatetoparentsalloftheelementsthatcouldcontributetohealthier

lunchboxes.Alsoconsiderworkingwithhealthprofessionalssuchascommunitydietitians,

schoolnurses,andcommunitydentalteams.

Examples of good communication ideas

•Providinghealthierlunchboxinformationtoallparentsbysendingoutthe‘Schoolfood:top

marks’healthylunchboxleaflet,Are you packing a healthy lunch?

•Settingupadisplayinthemainschoolentranceorataparents’evening.

•Holdingaspecialhealthyeatinglunchboxdayorweek,invitingparentstoanassemblytowatch

childrentalkingabouthealthyeatingandlookingattheworktheyhavecompletedduringtheterm.

• AskingthePTAtopromotehealthasthethemeforthesummerfeteorthroughsocial

occasionsandeventsatschool.

• Askingparentswhatsupporttheywouldlike,sendingoutaquestionnairetogaugetheir

opinion.Whatcouldyourealisticallyoffer?

• Settingupaseriesoflunchboxworkshopsforparentsandpupilstopassontoptipsfor

lunchboxprovision.

• Includinghealthierlunchboxsuggestionsinyournewsletterorschoolwebsite.

3. Communicate with parents

Case study

Oneprimaryschoolcreatedanewsletterfeaturinglunchboxtoptipsforparents.Theresponse

waspositiveandresultedinthewholeschoolcommunitydevelopinghealthierfoodchoices.

‘Healthier lunch boxes has been the best. I learnt a lot about which are good foods to eat.’

Year5pupil

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Runningaworkshopprovidesparentsorcarerswithsomeideas,suggestionsandsupport.

Providingsupportwiththeopportunitytochattootherparentswillhelptoengageparentsin

addressingthehealthoftheirchild.

Top tips

•Berealistic.Findoutwhenparentsusuallyhavecontactwiththeschool.Canyoubuilda

workshoparoundaneventthatparentsattendalready?

•Givenotice.Letparentsknowaboutwhatyouintendtodo.Somemaywishtocomealong,

butneednoticetomakearrangementsforfamilyandworkcommitments.Publiciseand

promotetheevent.

•Supportthefamily.Dependingonyourschoolcircumstance,youcouldrunaworkshop

whereparentsandtheirchildrenworktogether.

•Keeptothepoint.Keeptheworkshopshortandsnappy.Makeyourpoint,allowdiscussion

andprovidesupport,forexamplehandoutthe‘Schoolfood:topmarks’healthylunchbox

leaflet, Are you packing a healthy lunch?

•Makeitinteractive.Makeyourworkshopmorefun(andthereforemorememorable)by

includingsomehands-onactivities,forexamplemakingasimplesandwichorsnack.

•Bepositive.Promotegoodchoices,balance,varietyandhealth,ratherthanconcentratingon

thenegative.

•Donotgiveup.Onlyafewparentsmayattendyourfirstworkshop–butthenewswillsoon

spread.Bepersistentandprovideanumberofopportunitiesforparentstoattend.

•Makelinks.Yourhealthpromotioncoordinator,communitydietitian,schoolnurseor

supermarketrepresentativemaybeabletohelp.Makecontactandfindout.

•Giveyourworkshopatheme.Forexample,‘Summerlunchboxtoptips’,‘Takingthechoreout

ofthelunchbox’or‘Makingahealthylunchforlessthan£1’.

•Promoteahealthypicnicaspartoftheschool’ssportsday.Inviteparentstojoinin,preparing

foodandtakingpartintheactivities.

•Holdadrop-inworkshopataschoolopenevening(forprospectivenewpupils’parents,for

example)orparents’evening.Runaseriesof10–15minuteworkshopsabouthealthylunchboxes.

4. Run a healthier lunch box workshop

Step by step plan

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Provisionforstoragecanaffectwhatparentsprovidetheirchildforlunch.Howlunchboxes

arestored,andwhethertheyarekeptcool,canbeanimportantfactorinthetypeoffoods

included.Forexample,sandwichfillingssuchaseggandcheesearesometimesnotincluded

asthereisconcernfromparentsthattheingredientswillbecome‘smelly’andtherefore

off-puttingtotheirchildatlunchtime.

TheFoodStandardsAgencyadvisesthatiffoodiscarefullypreparedonthedayof

consumption,therearerelativelyfewfoodswherelackofrefrigerationuntillunchtimecouldlead

tothegrowthofharmfulorganisms,althoughitisimportantthattheyarenotkeptinawarmplace.

Schoolsneedtoberealisticwhendealingwiththeissueofstoringlunchboxes,whilealso

acknowledgingrealconcernsaboutfoodsafetyandhygiene.Theschoolbuilding,location,

pupilrollandsizearejustafewfactorsthatwilldeterminethewaylunchboxesarestored.

Things to consider

•Howcanwestorelunchboxesawayfromsourcesofheat,forexamplepipes,radiatorsand

directsunlight?Wherearethecool,wellventilatedplaces,forexampleacooldark

cupboard?

•Howcanweencourageparentstouseinsulatedboxesor‘ice’packs?

•Whatisthebestwaytopromotetoplunchboxsafetytips?

•Couldwesupplyfridgesforclassrooms,perhapsfundedbythePTA?

5. Store healthier lunch boxes at school

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Step by step plan

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6. Encourage social eating

Animportantaspectofdevelopinggoodeatinghabitsistolookatwhereandhowchildreneat.

Dependingonyourschool’ssize,resourcesandnumberofpupilswhohavealunchbox,

variousorganisationalmethodsforeatingatlunchtimecanbeemployed.

To do

Createasociableeatingareainthesummerterm(someschoolsputupgazebosand

providebenchestoimprovechildren’ssocialandeatingskills).

Encouragebettereatingandsocialskillsbysittingolderandyoungerpupilstogether.

Olderpupilscanactasgoodrolemodelsforyoungerchildren.By’serving’waterormilk

theycanencourageyoungerchildrentoconsumeplentyoffluid.

Establishbenchesintheplaygroundtoencouragepupilstoeattogether.

Ifspaceisnotaproblem,seatchildrenwhohavealunchboxwiththosehavingaschool

meal.Thiswillallowfriendstosittogetherandpossiblyencouragechildrentotryaschool

dinner.

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Establishingactivitiesinyourschooltopromotehealthierlunchboxesmightbefunand

generateinterestfrompupils,parentsandthelocalcommunity.Butdoesitwork?Hasyour

hardworkpaidoff?Havelunchboxesimproved?Howwouldyouknow?

To do

Conductanauditoflunchboxcontentsbeforeyoustartyourplannedactivities.This

processwillgiveyouabaselinefromwhichyoucanseeifanychangesoccurasaresultof

youractivities.

Reviewtheactivitiesyoutriedout.Weretheyasuccess?Canyourunthemagain?

Collectevidenceofwhathappened,forexamplephotographsofaworkshoporcooking

session.

Setupadisplayofpupils’ideasforinterestinglunchboxes.

Talktopupils,parentsandthelocalcommunity.Hasthepromotiondrivehadanimpact?

Whatworkedwell?Wouldtheylikefurthersupport?

Askiftheschoollunchsupervisorshavenoticedanydifference.Whathavetheyseen?

Thinkaboutintroducinghealthierlunchboxguidelinesforallpupils.

Case study

OnehealthylunchboxinitiativewaspilotedandevaluatedinprimaryschoolsintheWestern

HealthandSocialCareTrustarea.Schoolsthatimplementedhealthylunchboxguidelinesand

incorporatedthisintoschoolpolicyreceivedanaward.Supportfromboardsofgovernors,staff,

pupilsandparentswasessentialtothesuccessofthescheme.

7. Evaluate success

Healthier lunch box checklist

Haveyouidentifiedthebenefitsofhealthierlunchboxesforyourschool?

Areyouclearaboutwhatyouwanttoachieve?

HaveyouinvolvedtheschoolcouncilorSNAG?

Haveyouaskedtheparentsandpupilswhattheywouldlike?Aretheyfullyinvolved?

Doyouknowwhatpupilshaveintheirlunchboxes?

Haveyouidentifiedanypupilswithallergies?

Istheadvicegivenonwhattoprovideinalunchboxconsistentwiththenutritional

standardsforschoollunches?

Haveyougotaplantopromotehealthierlunchboxestopupilsandparents?

Haveyouconsideredhealthandsafetyissues,includingstorageoflunchboxesinyourschool?

Havepupilsandparentsbeengiventheopportunitytofeedbacktheiropinionsaboutthe

healthierlunchboxdrive?

Haveyouplannedhowyouwillmonitorandevaluatetheimpactofyourhealthierlunchbox

drive?

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Integrating with other school food projects

Therearemanynaturallinksthatcanbemadefromhealthierlunchboxestootherfoodin

schoolprojects,dependingonyourschool.

Linkscouldinclude:

•encouragingtheuseofvendingmachines,whichcanhelpextendthevarietyoflunchbox

contents,andmakingarangeofhealthierfoodanddrinkavailable.Itemscouldincludepieces

offruit,yogurtsandsandwiches;

•promotinghealthiertuckshopsthatprovidehealthierfoodanddrinkssuitableforinlunch

boxes,forexamplefruitorfilledwraps;

•activelypromotingandencouragingwaterconsumption,includingputtingwaterasthedrink

inlunchboxes;

•developinghealthierfoodpreferencesandsociableeatinghabitsthroughtheenvironmentin

whichpupilseat.Promotehealthiereatinganddrinkingandencouragevarietybyusing

posterstocreatestimulatingdisplays.

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Curriculum links

Primary

Language and literacy

Usingastorybookasastimulus,forexampleThe dinosaur’s packed lunch,pupilscanwritea

storyaboutthe‘amazinglunchboxadventure’,writeinstructionsonhowtomakeasandwichor

anexoticfruitsalad,ordesignaleafletorposterpromotingahealthierlunchbox.

The arts

Pupilscandesignandmakecollagesorpostersoffoodssuitableforahealthierlunchboxsuch

asfruitsaladsorfruitandvegetablesnacks,sandwichesorsalads(pasta,rice)orbreadsnacks.

Setpupilsthechallengeofcreatingaschoollunchboxideasandrecipebook.Theycancollect

ideasandsuggestionsfrommembersofstaffandparents.Thisinformationcanbedeveloped

intoabookletforuseintheschoolnewsletterorwebsite.

The world around us

History–whattypeoffoodsdidchildreneatatschoolduringWorldWar2whenrationing

existed?Whatfoodscouldhavebeenincludedinalunchbox?

Geography–wheredoesfoodcomefrom?Usingthecontentsofasamplelunchbox(ortheir

own)childreninvestigatewhereintheworldtheirfoodmayhaveoriginated.Hasitbeenmade

intheUK?Wasitgrowninanothercountry?Plotthefoodonthemapoftheworld.

Post-primary

The arts

Design and technology–pupilscandevelopanewlunchboxsuitableforprimaryagedpupils.

Learning for life and work

Home economics–pupilscankeepafooddiary,loggingthetypesoffoodtheyeatforlunch.

Thesedatacanthenbeanalysedusingnutritionalanalysissoftwaretocalculatetheenergyand

nutrientsprovidedbytheirlunchboxorschoollunch.

Personal development–eitherwriteanewspaperarticleonhealthierlunchboxesordevelop

aninformationleafletforteenagersabouthowtoputtogetherahealthierlunchbox.

Forfurtheradviceandsuggestions,goto:

www.ccea.org.uk

www.nicurriculum.org.uk

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References

1. DepartmentofEducation.Nutritionalstandardsforschoollunches:aguidefor

implementation.Belfast:DE,2008.

2. DepartmentofEducation.October2008schoolmealcensus.Unpublished.

3. Safefood.Aninvestigationintothenutritionalbalanceofschoolchildren’spackedlunches:

Anall-Irelandstudy.Unpublished.

4. FoodStandardsAgency.Schoollunchboxsurvey.London:FSA,2004.

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20

Sources of further information

Thefollowinglistprovideslinkstofurther

resourcesandinformationthatmaysupport

youindevelopingyourhealthierlunch

boxes.

British Nutrition Foundation

www.nutrition.org.uk

Providesbackgroundinformationonfood

andnutrition,includinglunchboxes.

Food Standards Agency

www.eatwell.gov.uk

Isthewebsiteforconsumeradvice

onhealthyeating.Itprovides

backgroundinformationandadviceon

makingandpromotinghealthierlunch

boxesinschools,includingamenu

planner.

Safefood

www.safefood.eu

Anall-islandbodyresponsibleforthe

promotionoffoodsafety.Thiswebsite

providespracticaladviceandhandytips

onlunchboxes.

Department of Education

www.deni.gov.uk

Thissiteprovidesinformationonthe

nutritionalstandardsforschoollunches

whichcameintoeffecton1September

2007.

School Food Trust

www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk

Providesinformationforschoolson

packedlunches.Includescase

studiesandatemplateforalunchbox

policy,supportinglettersforparentsand

informationonahealthierlunchbox.

ThisresourcewasoriginallydevelopedandproducedbytheHealthPromotionAgencyforNorthernIrelandaspartofthe‘Schoolfood:topmarks’programme.ItwasjointlyfundedbytheDepartmentofEducationandtheDepartmentofHealth,SocialServicesandPublicSafety.