Overall aim of the policy.
Our aim is to ensure that all packed lunches brought from home and consumed in school (or on school trips) provide the student with healthy and nutritious food that is similar to food served in school, which is now monitored by local regulators.

This policy has been developed to:
Make a positive contribution to children’s health.
To encourage a happier and calmer population of children and young people.
To promote consistency between packed lunches and food provided by schools which must adhere to standards set by the local regulator.
To contribute to the self-evaluation for review by KHDA.

This policy applies to all students and parents providing packed lunches to be consumed within school or on school trips during normal school hours beginning from January 2009.

Food and drink in packed lunches.
The policy states that;
The school will provide facilities for students bringing in packed lunches and ensure that free, fresh drinking water is readily available at all times.
The school will provide clean and appropriate dining arrangements.
As fridge space is not available in school, students are advised to bring packed lunches in insulated bags with freezer blocks, where possible, to stop the food going off.
The school will work with parents to advise that packed lunches follow the list below.

Packed lunches should include;
At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables e.g. carrot sticks, cucumber, small apple or orange, banana, dried fruit, mini tomatoes, mango cubes.
Meat, fish or other source of non-dairy protein e.g. chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, tuna, lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas and falafel.
A starchy food e.g. wholemeal bread, pasta or rice, crackers, rice cakes, oat cakes, pitta bread, tortilla wraps.
Dairy food e.g. milk, cheese, yoghurt or fromage frais.
A drink of either water (provided by the school), fruit juice, milk, yoghurt drink or smoothie.

Our alternative suggestions to snacks such as crisps/chips include;
Savoury crackers or breadsticks served with a dip.
Vegetables and fruit.
Cereal bars.
Dried fruit.

High fat meat products such as individual pies, corned meat and sausages should only be included occasionally.

Please note that the local regulator has said schools must not allow children to have chocolate in school.

We also request that you adhere to these guidelines when packing snackboxes.

Special diets and allergies
Be aware of nut allergies, we are a nut free school. The school recognises that some students may require special diets that do not allow for the standards to be met exactly. In this case parents are to be responsible for ensuring that packed lunches are as healthy as possible. For this reason students are also not permitted to swap
food items.

Assessment, evaluation and reviewing
Healthy lunches will be rewarded with stickers and verbal congratulations/letters home etc.  Students’ names will go into a draw to have a lunch with the principal.
Notes will be sent home via the lunchboxes when the food is obviously inappropriate.