Healthy eating in schools: supplementary guidance

Ministerial Foreword

Included in our vision for Scotland is that we will live longer, healthier lives. We believe that a healthier Scotland is essential if we are to realise our central purpose of creating a more successful nation through sustainable economic growth where we can all flourish.

The Scottish Government believes that all children and young people should get the support they need to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. This will help to ensure that they are ready to make the choices they will face as adults.

We want our children and young people to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. This includes ensuring they develop the practical skills and knowledge to be able to choose a healthy and balanced diet. This is important if we are to reduce their risk of diet-related diseases, such as obesity, over the course of their lifetime.

Learning about health and wellbeing through Curriculum for Excellence can be particularly beneficial to a child or young person who faces challenges due to complex or challenging diet and nutrition needs. The guidelines in this document acknowledge this and offer practical suggestions to help ensure the health and wellbeing of a child with additional support needs are implemented in a way that allows each individual child to reach their potential.

These nutritional guidelines are designed to be used alongside the advice and support provided within our Healthy Eating in Schools: A Guide to Implementing the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) regulations 2008. They complement a package of measures, introduced by the Scottish Government, that will support schools to develop a positive healthy eating culture for the whole school community.

Our children and young people deserve the best lives we can provide. Partnership working is key to ensuring that each and everyone reaches their potential regardless of the challenges they may face. In a Scotland where every child matters, we have a social and moral obligation to do our very best for those most vulnerable members of our communities and to show that we can, and will, do better.

ADAM INGRAM
Minister for Children and Early Years