Healthy Eating
Lumbertubs Primary School recognises the importance of a balanced diet in supporting children's growth, health, wellbeing, concentration and learning.
We will:
- collaborate with Fresh Start to provide healthy school meals that meet the relevant School Food Standards;
- encourage pupils to eat a varied and balanced diet;
- encourage fruit and vegetable consumption;
- promote healthy snacks;
- encourage children to drink water regularly;
- provide appropriate opportunities for learning about nutrition;
- teach children about the importance of a balanced diet;
- develop practical food preparation and cooking skills;
- avoid using food as a reward;
- avoid creating negative attitudes towards particular foods or body types;
- support children with food allergies, intolerances and medical dietary requirements;
- provide appropriate information to parents and carers about healthy packed lunches and snacks.
Food provided by the school will comply with applicable legislation and national guidance.
Breaktime Snacks
Children in Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 will have access to fruit and/or vegetables in line with the school’s arrangements and the national School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.
Key Stage 2 children bringing a snack from home are encouraged to choose fresh fruit or vegetables.
Easy ideas to try:
🍎 Apple or pear
🍌 Banana
🍊 Satsuma or orange
🍓 Strawberries or other fresh berries
🥒 Cucumber sticks
🥕 Carrot sticks
🫑 Pepper strips
🍅 Tomatoes
🥛 Plain yoghurt with fresh fruit
❌Confectionery, chocolate, crisps, cakes, biscuits, pastries, cereal bars and processed fruit bars should not be provided as everyday school snacks.
💧 Water is the best choice
Children are encouraged to bring a named reusable water bottle containing plain water to school each day.
Fresh drinking water will be freely available throughout the school day.
Healthy Packed Lunches
Children who do not wish to have a school meal may bring a packed lunch. Please include food you know your child enjoys and check that you send an appropriate quantity as children can often bring far more than they can manage.
We encourage all parents and carers to provide their child with a balanced, nutritious and enjoyable packed lunch that will give them the energy they need for the afternoon.
⭐ A simple Lumbertubs lunchbox formula
🥪 Starchy food + 🍗 protein + 🍎 fruit/vegetable + 🥛 dairy/alternative + 💧 water
We ask families to avoid routinely including foods and drinks that are high in sugar, salt or saturated fat, such as:
❌sweets and chocolate; crisps and savoury snacks; biscuits; cakes and pastries; chocolate-coated or highly processed snack bars; sugary drinks and squash.
These foods can be included as occasional treats at home, but we encourage healthier choices for children's everyday school lunches.
Nut Allergies: Please ensure that no nut products (such as peanut butter or nut bars) are packed, as the school maintains a strict allergy-aware environment.
We understand that every family is different and that preparing packed lunches needs to be realistic, affordable and manageable. Our aim is to support families rather than judge them.
We recommend that packed lunches mirror the national school food standards to provide a balanced midday meal that should include:
Food Type | Examples | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
A (fist sized) carbohydrate portion for energy | A roll, bagel or pitta bread, a wrap or a potato, pasta, rice, rice cake, couscous or noodle salad | These starchy foods are important for children. They are filling and provide energy. |
A palm sized portion of protein | Meat, chicken, tinned fish, beans, hummus, egg or cheese | Growing children need the protein, iron and vitamins these foods provide. |
A dairy portion | Size of two fingers of cheese, a cup of milk, fromage frais or yoghurt | The calcium and protein in this food group are needed for building strong bones and teeth. |
Vegetables and fruit | Salad, carrots, celery, tomatoes or cucumber and all kinds of fresh or dried fruit | These foods provide fibre and vitamins which help to keep your child healthy. |
Extras | Fruit bread/ malt loaf/ banana cake/ plain fruit cake/ cheese scone | A healthy treat. |
Some ideas on links here or search for yourself:
https://www.superhealthykids.com/kid-lunchbox-photo-roundup-90-healthy-lunches/
https://www.healthycornwall.org.uk/media/riqo4w41/under-5-s-healthy-lunchbox-card_a5_web.pdf
Home-made snacks, cakes, flapjacks etc can be allowed but please be cautious of overly fatty and sugary recipes or products. Here are some more ideas:
https://www.healthycornwall.org.uk/media/qg4fq544/under-5-s-healthy-snacks-card_a5_web.pdf
🎂 Birthday Celebrations – Birthday Book Scheme
At Lumbertubs Primary School, we want to celebrate children's birthdays in a way that is both special and meaningful.
Rather than bringing sweets, chocolate, cakes or other treats into school to share with classmates, children and their parents/carers are invited to choose and purchase an age-appropriate book for their child to bring into school on their birthday.
The birthday child will have the opportunity to:
- bring their chosen book into school to share with their class;
- enjoy having the book read and shared with their classmates;
- donate the book to their classroom library;
- know that their birthday gift will be enjoyed by children throughout the year and for years to come.
A special label will be placed inside the book to recognise the child's birthday donation.
This provides a lasting and meaningful way to celebrate birthdays while helping to build a love of reading and enrich our classroom libraries.
We kindly ask parents and carers not to send sweets, chocolate, cakes or other food treats into school for birthday celebrations.
Participation in the Birthday Book Scheme is entirely voluntary. We appreciate every book donated and hope that this will become a special tradition within our school community.
📚 Celebrate a birthday, share a story, inspire a love of reading.
Thank you for helping us to create a healthy school community.
Lumbertubs Primary School
Healthy choices • Healthy bodies • Healthy minds