While school provides early steps towards independence for children, it is important to instil healthy eating habits to serve them later in life.
The National Food and Consumption Survey Ireland found that in 2019-2020, teenagers consumed nearly one-fifth of their total calories (19%) outside of the home.
As social media gains popularity and young people gather nutritional advice online, it is important to get them interested and involved in healthy eating at home and in school to ensure they nourish themselves as best they can.
Safefood reports the importance of lunch, saying, “Lunches provide around one third of our daily nutritional needs, so it’s important to put some thought and planning into them.”
Food Standards
Eating healthy is not only an important habit for its physical benefits, but it also helps with energy and concentration to ensure that children and teenagers can make the most of their school day.
Aware of the importance of healthy eating in schools, the UK government introduced new food standards for schools in 2010.
The standards included recommendations such as at least on serving of fruit or vegetables every day, one serving of dairy a day, and a portion of meat or poultry at least three times a week.
Safefood has issued similar guidelines for parents, adding that variety and independence can help stir up interest in consistent healthy eating.
Tips from the organisation include:
- Vary the types of bread, such as pitta bread, bagels or wholemeal rolls, and store them in the freezer.
- Cook extra rice or pasta in the evening and use them to make salads.
- Try a pasta salad or filled tortillas for variety.
- Invest in a brightly coloured bottle to make drinking water more fun.
- Get your children involved in packing lunches – this will help them to get excited about what they are eating.
- Children generally like to try a new food a few times before deciding if they like it – try out new foods at dinnertime or at the weekend before adding them to the lunchbox.
Safefood adds, “Good food habits set early in childhood can last a lifetime.
“Schools recognise that children who eat a nutritious lunch in school are better able to concentrate and learn in the classroom.”
In order to help children get the most out of the school day and come home feeling good, school rules and parental encouragement should work in tandem to instil healthy habits.
Read More: When It Comes To School Uniforms, The Early Bird Gets The Worm
This is from the July edition of Checkout – click here to read the full magazine online.
