Nutritious food helps children to concentrate, stay alert and perform better.
Getting started
Having a healthy and varied diet is important during childhood. This ensures that they are getting all the nutrients and energy they need for their bodies to develop, work efficiently, maintain a healthy weight and feel good. We develop eating habits early in life, so by encouraging and promoting children to eat a healthy diet increases their chances of growing up to be a healthy and happy adult.
The food that children eat at school makes up a high proportion of their overall dietary intake. Eating well in school has many benefits.
Benefits of eating well at school
Supports learning
Boosts energy and mood
Balanced meals provide steady energy and can improve behaviour and emotional wellbeing.
Encourages healthy habits
School is a key environment for shaping lifelong eating patterns.
Promotes physical health
A healthy diet helps maintain a healthy weight and reduces risk of diet-related illnesses.
Improves oral health
Limiting sugary snacks and drinks supports healthy teeth, preventing tooth decay.
It can be challenging sometimes to pack a healthy packed lunch box for many reasons including cost of healthier foods, time constraints, picky eaters or lack of inspiration.
Building a healthy packed lunch
Our Knowsley schools provide lots of tasty, healthy and balanced meals on their menus, all of which meet the School Food Standards, so are a great option for your child’s lunch choice. But if you decide to provide your child with a lunchbox this website will provide a range of tips and ideas that are aimed to be quick, easy and healthy!
A healthy packed lunch should include:
Complex carbohydrates
Such as rice, pasta, bread, wraps, couscous, pitta breads. These provide the main source of energy.
Proteins
Such as meat, fish, eggs, beans or Quorn items.
Dairy
Such as cheese or yoghurts.
Fruit and vegetables
Include a variety of vegetables, salad, fruit items across the week.
Healthy drinks
Water and milk is always best for children.