Healthy eating in schools: supplementary guidance

Annex C
Snack Policy, St Andrew's School

Documents used:

• Nutritional Guidance for Early Years Food choices for children aged 1-5 years in early education and childcare settings. Scottish Executive, Edinburgh, 2006.
• Healthy Eating in Schools: guide to implementing the nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Scottish Government, Edinburgh, 2008.
• Points to consider:
• Well balanced and healthy.
• Consider individual needs, special dietary requirements.
• Dietary fibre.
• Encourage experimentation.
• Plan snacks.
• Allow enough time.
• Remember it's a social time - enjoy.
• Think about portion sizes.
• Cultural backgrounds.
• Sensory qualities of foods ie texture, flavour, colour, smell and temperature.
• Involve the pupils in preparation.
• Explain and discuss ie origin and growth.

The document recommends that spread used is monounsaturated or polyunsaturated i.e. toast and spread. Drinks provided are still water or semi-skimmed milk (full fat milk for those under 5, or those who are required to gain weight).

As a guide the list below has been divided into sections giving guidance on the types of food that could be provided and the frequency. The menus provided are only a sample and due to class/individual needs may need to be adapted to suit.

Some points to take into account:

• Timetable.
• Texture of diet - pureed/mashed.
• Period of attendance - part-time/full-time.
• Additional dietary requirements - gluten or dairy free.
• Finances.

Stage of development - control of swallow.

Input from other agencies - Speech and Language Therapist/Dietitian.

From group discussion and our understanding of the above documents this is our interpretation of what is required to provide healthy snacks.

Snack Suggestions

Savoury

Daily - green

• All vegetables - fresh/frozen/canned in water
• Baked beans
• Tuna, ham or other lean meat sandwich
• Bagel, bread, pitta bread, naan bread, crumpets, rolls, baps, French bread, wraps
• Water biscuits, crackers, oatcakes, bread sticks, rice cakes, melba toast (where they meet savoury snack criteria)
• Soup
• Cous cous, rice, pasta, noodles
• Cottage cheese

Once/twice a week - Orange

• Crisps or corn snacks (that meet the savoury snack criteria, where appropriate)
• Cheese - hard/soft
• Cheese scone
• Sausage
• Savoury rice

Occasionally - Red

• Meat paste

Sweet

Daily - Green

• All fruit, fresh/frozen/canned in juice/dried
• Smoothies (homemade)
• Yogurt - fromage frais, natural, Greek
• Cereal - weetabix, corn flakes, rice crispies, porridge, Ready Brek, Shreddies, puffed wheat (unsweetened)
• Banana sandwich

Once/twice a week - Orange

• Plain biscuit eg digestive, rich tea, hob nob, (no chocolate or cream filled biscuits)
• Rice pudding, custard, whip, jelly, semolina
• Scones - plain/fruit, pancake, tea cake, muffin
• Jam, honey

Occasionally - Red

• Cake eg Birthday Cake.
• Any biscuit with cream filling.

Snack Menu 1

	Morning	Afternoon
Monday	Fruit & Natural Yogurt	Crackers & Meat Paste
Tuesday	Fruit & Weetabix	Toast & Spread
Wednesday	Fruit & Fromage Frais	Fruit & Puffed Wheat
Thursday	Fruit & Pancake	Naan Bread & Chutney
Friday	Fruit & Porridge	Smoothie & Plain Biscuits

Snack Menu 2

	Morning	Afternoon
Monday	Banana Sandwich	Bread Sticks & Dip - tomato salsa
Tuesday	Fruit & Cornflakes	Pitta Bread & Spreading Cheese
Wednesday	Fruit & Natural Yogurt	Crumpet & Jam
Thursday	Fruit & Whip	Ham Sandwich
Friday	Fruit & Rice Crispies	Smoothie & Fancy Biscuits

Milk or Water to drink

Snack Menu 3

	Morning	Afternoon
Monday	Fruit & Puffed Wheat	Banana & Yogurt
Tuesday	Fruit & Swiss Roll	Bagel & Soft cheese
Wednesday	Fruit & Fromage Frais	Cracker & Spread
Thursday	Fruit & Custard	Wrap & Salsa
Friday	Fruit & Weetabix	Smoothie & Plain Biscuit

Snack Menu 4

	Morning	Afternoon
Monday	Fruit & Yogurt	Bread & Jam
Tuesday	Fruit & Rice Crispies	Vegetable Sticks (carrot & cucumber) & Salsa
Wednesday	Fruit & Greek Yogurt	Cheese Scone & Tomatoes
Thursday	Fruit & Whip	Pitta Bread & Chutney Dip
Friday	Fruit & Ready Brek	Smoothie & Fancy Biscuit

Milk or Water to drink