Food
It goes without saying that food is a major factor in our health and wellbeing. In various ways, food and nutrition have the ability to affect how we feel physically and mentally whether that be through consuming the nutrients that support our body’s processes and functioning, or through the joy and social experience of sharing a delicious meal with friends and family.
For children and young people especially, good nutrition is an important part of growth and development and can help lower the risk of illness and future diseases and provide the contexts to practice essential social skills and development of autonomy.
Nutrition is a broad, multi-dimensional topic, with many factors contributing to the foods we choose and have access to in the first place. As such, we don’t expect schools to have all the solutions, but school is an environment that can help provide access to sufficient and nutritious food, support positive eating behaviours and related messaging, and enable pupils to develop the essential knowledge and skills they need as they grow up to best nourish themselves. All of which support pupils to feel more content, are better able to focus and participate, have increased ability to learn, achieve their potential, and make the most of opportunities available to them.
