Healthy lunches mean healthy, happy children – Ruane

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has encouraged children to pack a healthy lunch box for school.

Speaking at the launch of the Public Health Agency’s Healthier Lunch Boxes leaflet for parents and guidance for schools in Lisnasharragh Primary School the Minister said: “I am very pleased to be here today to help launch these publications, which are the latest to be produced under the School Food: Top Marks banner. This is another step in ensuring that all food and drinks provided or consumed in schools are healthy and take a positive contribution to a healthy lifestyle. Parents and families play a vital role in educating children in making healthy choices.”

The Minister also praised school lunches and encouraged parents to take up their entitlement to free school meals if they meet the eligibility criteria: “Although we are launching a lunch box leaflet here today, I am also very appreciative of the efforts made every day by the school catering service and I know, from my visits to various schools, how hard the canteen staff work in the kitchens throughout the north.

“School dinners are very good value for money at £2.20 for primaries and £2.40 in post-primaries and ensure that children get a nutritionally balanced main meal each school day. However, we recognise that they are not for everyone and it is important, therefore, that we make sure the healthy eating message is promoted in other ways too. Packed lunches can provide a valuable contribution towards a child’s nutritional requirements for a day and this guidance will support children in making healthier food choices.

“This is a difficult time for everyone but particularly so for those lower income families who struggle to meet the cost of everyday needs. For this reason I would also encourage everyone who meets the eligibility criteria to take up their entitlement to free school meals.”

Notes to editors:

1. The School Food: Top Marks programme was launched by the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane and the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey in March 2009. The programme is a joint venture between the Department of Education (DE), the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Public Health Agency (PHA). Safefood, the North-South body responsible for the promotion of food safety on the island of Ireland, has also been involved in the current lunch box development. The programme aims to ensure that all food and drinks provided throughout the school setting makes a significant contribution to childhood nutrition and schools are supported in the development of the knowledge and skills necessary for children and young people to make healthier choices.
2. The PHA has produced a leaflet, Are you packing a healthy lunch? in collaboration with DE, DHSSPS and Safefood. The publication will be distributed to every child in primary school packed with practical tips for parents, carers and children on how to pack an appetising, healthy lunchbox. In addition to the leaflet, all schools will receive a Healthier lunch box booklet which provides a step by step guide to how schools can support healthier food choices by those children who choose to bring a packed lunch. The booklets will also be available to download from the PHA website.
3. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.