We know healthy eating in schools is a hot topic, mostly thanks to chef Jamie Oliver making a big fuss about the state of school dinners and the rising obesity epidemic in this country.
We speak to parents all the time and we know there is lots of guidance around what children should and shouldn’t be eating and that primary aged children are now weighed to check they aren’t falling into the overweight category. We also know there’s a fair bit of controversy surrounding schools telling parents what they should and shouldn’t feed their children! A recent article in The Guardian pointed out that in some schools children can still freely access junk foods (local councils banned this some time ago).
And we know it’s hard to control what your children eat when you aren’t around. We’re not here to lecture you on the rights and wrongs of what goes in a packed lunch but we have put together some tips to help your children get the best out of their education by eating a balanced diet.
- According to many experts eating a good breakfast aids concentration and helps your child to learn in the classroom. Getting your child to sit down and eat breakfast also means they are less likely to fill up on sugary snacks on the way to school.
- School lunches. It’s worth discussing with your child if they prefer packed lunches or school dinners and trying to understand why. It could be that all their friends have school dinners and they feel left out or they don’t like school dinner choices and so they don’t eat properly.
- Help them make healthy choices. Unless there is a serious health issue then kids don’t need restrictive diets. They need a balance of fruit, veg, protein, carbohydrates and fats. If school send some healthy eating information home then read it together and help your child understand why a balanced diet is the best thing for their body.
- Children are growing and often need to eat more than adults, after school snacks that are quick and healthy are a great idea. You also need to make sure your children drink enough as dehydration can have a serious impact on their ability to concentrate.
- Get them in the kitchen. Talk to your kids about food, let them help with food preparation, it’s a great education and a way to get them interested in what they are putting in their body.
Do you have any top tips for healthy eating with kids?
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