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School food

For children and young people

Why do we need to eat a healthy diet?

A healthy diet provides energy so that you can get out of bed every day, walk, run and do all the activities you enjoy. It also provides all the nutrients you need to help your body grow, develop and stay healthy.

What is a healthy diet?

A healthy diet is one that is well-balanced and contains a wide variety of different foods.

Look at ‘The eatwell plate’ image below. It is like a plate, which is divided into sections, each of which shows a different food group.

There are five food groups:

1. Fruit and vegetables.
2. Bread, other cereals and potatoes.
3. Milk and dairy foods.
4. Meat, fish and alternatives.
5. Foods containing fat; foods containing sugar.

The aim is to try and keep the balance of all the foods you eat over the course of a day or even a week like the one shown in The eatwell plate. So, the two biggest groups: 'fruit and vegetables' and 'bread, other cereals and potatoes', are the ones you should eat the most of. You only need moderate amounts of 'milk and dairy foods' and 'meat, fish and alternatives' (like beans, chickpeas, nuts and eggs).

You don’t need foods high in fat or sugar, such as crisps, fizzy drinks and spreads, for a healthy diet, so they occupy a very small section of the Balance of Good Health plate. However, as long as you eat them in small amounts, or keep them as treats, they can add interest and variety to your diet.

Why have a school lunch?

School meals are getting better and better all the time. As part of the National Healthy Schools Programme, young people are asked what they think about school meals. Here are some of the things that they have said recently:

"Our school meals are belting."

"We like getting a hot meal when it's cold outside."

"The home cooked biscuits are the best."

"The curries are really good."

"School meals are really good value for money."

"We like to try different sorts of food before buying."

"Meals have got a lot healthier since September."

"I love the roast dinners."

"We get stickers and prizes for eating healthy food."

"I used to have chips every day but now there's more choice."

Healthy eating tips

• Try to eat breakfast every day. Why not try a tasty wholegrain cereal without added sugar, wholemeal toast, porridge, or fresh fruit with low fat yoghurt?
• Try to eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.  These can be fresh, frozen (like frozen peas), dried (like raisins), tinned (like peaches in natural juice) or as pure juice. Why not try making a fruit smoothie or try adding some salad to your sandwiches?
• Choose a wide selection of different foods.
• Eat plenty of starchy foods that contain fibre. Good examples include: wholegrain bread, chapatti, pasta, beans, pulses and rice. 
• Keeping sugar to mealtimes will greatly reduce the number of acid attacks on teeth, and therefore help to prevent tooth decay.
• Remember to enjoy your food! It should be fun!

For more tips on eating well visit Eat well, be well - 8 tips for eating well|.

Calderdale School Nursing Team

If you are in primary school you can find out more information about healthy eating from your school nurse.  Your school nurse may see you whilst you are in school, or visit your classroom to help with work you are doing about healthy eating.

If you are in secondary school, and if you don’t already know, it may be useful to find out who your school nurse is, and how to contact him / her. Staff on reception or your head of year will usually be able to tell you how to contact your school nurse.

You can ask your school nurse about any health problems, including any worries or concerns you have about healthy eating and weight.

Your school nurse will usually hold a 'drop in' session over a lunchtime period in school, where you can see him / her if you need to.

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