Food at School & National Lunchbox Week

Did you know children consume around a THIRD of their daily food intake at school? 

Lunchbox food plays a crucial role towards children’s ability to concentrate, learn and play.

National Lunchbox Week

Nutrition Australia’s National Lunchbox Week is next week, from 9 to 15 February. 

EHPS is proud to support National Lunch Box Week and help promote enjoyable and nourishing lunchboxes for all! 

Each lunchbox is as unique as the person it belongs to, shaped by family culture, available resources, and individual preferences. During National Lunchbox Week, Nutrition Australia’s suite of practical tips, helpful resources and simple recipes support families, carers and educators from all backgrounds in creating enjoyable lunchbox experiences. 

We know that packing a lunchbox can sometimes feel daunting. Nutrition Australia’s tips and simple options can reassure families and help make busy mornings more manageable. Most importantly, lunchbox packing isn’t about perfection but finding what works for you and your family. Affordability matters, too, and with some practical ideas, nutritious lunches can be both satisfying and budget-friendly. 

Lunchtime is more than a meal. It’s an opportunity for children to build lifelong positive relationships with food and connect with friends. The heart of National Lunchbox Week is collaboration. Families, schools, early childhood education services, and health advocates share a common goal: for children to have nourishing, enjoyable meals that help them grow, learn and thrive. 

Through National Lunchbox Week, we can help create lasting benefits for children by working together, sharing ideas and fostering inclusive spaces. Explore the National Lunchbox Week website for handy tips, recipes and inspiration: www.lunchboxweek.org

Set your child up for success every day at EHPS with: 

• brain food (cut up fruit and/or vegetable), 
• snack, 
• lunch (from home or ordered from the Canteen), and 
• a filled water bottle 

EHPS families are reminded that food at school:

• must be provided ready to eat;
• in a lunchbox/food container that your child can manage independently (practise at home to make sure your child can access all their food at school), including any cutlery required to eat their food;
• does not require heating/cooling (there is no facility/provision to store or heat student food); 
• food choices take into account the allergy needs of a number of our students with life threatening allergies (see below); and 
• definitely no take away food (even if you’re running late and dropping food off; take away food should be for after school hours only). 

Children with food allergies

EHPS has a number of children who suffer from severe life-threatening food allergies known as anaphylaxis. 

Any food can cause anaphylaxis but generally these foods account for 90% of all reactions:  Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Shellfish, Fish, Milk, Egg, Sesame, Soy and Wheat.

We also have many children with other various food allergies. 

Any food brought into the school can have serious consequences to children at risk. 

We ask parents, students, and staff to be sensitive to the critical needs of these children at school who have severe food allergies. 

Due to the large number of children with nut allergies we request that nuts, foods that contain nuts and nut products such as Nutella and peanut butter are not consumed at school at any time. 

Please discuss with your child no sharing of food at any time. 

Also, if you received a medical, allergy or an asthma plan from the Health Centre last year to complete with your child’s doctor, could you please return the completed form to the Health Centre so we can safely manage your child’s condition while they are at school. 

Celebrating birthdays or special occasions at school

Many families like to celebrate their child’s birthday by distributing a small party bag to class mates. This is a very kind gesture and is appreciated by the children and families. I would like to suggest that we keep in mind a few guidelines with respect to these party bags:

• Consider alternatives to sweets/lollies for the party bags. 
• Healthier alternatives would be appreciated by many families.
• Let’s try paper party bags as opposed to plastic bags. 
• Maybe consider an alternative to the party bag altogether e.g. provide a book or game to celebrate with the class. 
• Please discuss your ideas with the class teacher prior to the day of delivery and if providing food a list of ingredients must be provided.