Healthy Eating
St Maria Goretti Catholic Academy operates a healthy food policy. Pupils in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 are given fruit every day. Children in Key stage 2 may also bring fruit for playtime snacks. In addition through the DFE funded Magic Breakfast programme, the school also provides a nutritional breakfast for every pupil in the form of a bagel or cereal. The Magic Breakfast pupil leads ensure this is distributed equally across the school and in classes where pupils require an additional breakfast. Through our Health and Wellbeing week, each year the school focuses upon healthy lifestyle choices inclusive of a balanced diet and physical exercise.
Diet and Nutrition
According to advice from the Food Standards Agency, a healthy packed lunch should include:
- Meat, fish or a dairy source of protein
- Starchy carbohydrate, such as a wholegrain sandwich, to provide energy
- At least one portion each of a fruit and vegetable or salad
- Water or milk to drink, but diluted fruit juice and yogurt drinks or smoothies are acceptable
The key foods to avoid are:
- Sweets and chocolate
- Snacks, like crisps, with added salt/sugar/fat
- Sugary and fizzy drinks
- Deep-fried foods and processed meats
- White bread - if children won't eat brown, try wholemeal/white combined sliced bread
Chocolate, fizzy drinks and sweets etc. are not allowed.
The Children's Food Trust - an independent body set up to advise schools on healthy eating - says there are no plans to issue statutory guidance on packed lunches.
They have produced some sample lunchbox menus.
Click on the link below to see ideas for healthy lunch boxes.
Helpful websites to provide cheap healthy meals for families.
Food and Healthy Eating Advice.
Please see below the school meals menu for 2025/2026
