May 25, 2007
Gateshead Nutrition Agreement
As part of the Nutrition Strategy for Gateshead, a NUTRITION AGREEMENT has been developed with key partners in relation to good practice in nutrition education and directly commissioned nutrition work. The aim of this is to have a consistent and joined up approach to all nutrition/healthy eating work that takes place in Gateshead, as part of a local area agreement. A key aim of the strategy is to promote consistent nutrition messages on healthy choices for adults and children. Nutrition education encompasses key healthy eating messages, local information about services and programmes, cooking skills, addressing the barriers to healthier food consumption such as attitudes, awareness, access and availability. In addition a supporting document stating the current key messages for nutrition has been produced.
The agreement has been made specific to commissioning independent agencies, and the CHECKLIST (appendix 1) is almost a good practice guide for individuals, groups or organisations such as schools that may invite in guest speakers or external agencies. The KEY MESSAGES LEAFLET (appendix 2) for professionals forms an appendix to both the agreement and checklist.
Please note an important piece on Salt in Food that was missed from the Key Messages leaflet:
Avoid foods such as roasted peanuts, crisps, canned soups and ready meals as these tend to contain lots of salt. The recommended salt intake for adults is less than 6g a day. 6g is equivalent to one level teaspoon of salt.
Posted by Tom Hall at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)
Gateshead Nutrition Agreement
As part of the Nutrition Strategy for Gateshead, a NUTRITION AGREEMENT has been developed with key partners in relation to good practice in nutrition education and directly commissioned nutrition work. The aim of this is to have a consistent and joined up approach to all nutrition/healthy eating work that takes place in Gateshead, as part of a local area agreement. A key aim of the strategy is to promote consistent nutrition messages on healthy choices for adults and children. Nutrition education encompasses key healthy eating messages, local information about services and programmes, cooking skills, addressing the barriers to healthier food consumption such as attitudes, awareness, access and availability. In addition a supporting document stating the current key messages for nutrition has been produced.
The agreement has been made specific to commissioning independent agencies, and the CHECKLIST (appendix 1) is almost a good practice guide for individuals, groups or organisations such as schools that may invite in guest speakers or external agencies. The KEY MESSAGES LEAFLET (appendix 2) for professionals forms an appendix to both the agreement and checklist.
Please note an important piece on Salt in Food that was missed from the Key Messages leaflet:
Avoid foods such as roasted peanuts, crisps, canned soups and ready meals as these tend to contain lots of salt. The recommended salt intake for adults is less than 6g a day. 6g is equivalent to one level teaspoon of salt.
Posted by Tom Hall at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2007
School Food Trust Update
Three documents of interest;
SFT Letter to Stakeholders
Updated Parent's Guide
School Lunch Guide
What do you think of the new school meals? Click on 'comments' and let us know...
Posted by Tom Hall at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)
Your Child's Weight Matters
The Government has developed a booklet for parents: “Why your child’s weight matters”, which includes information for parents about:
• The National Child Measurement Programme
• Why maintaining a healthy weight is important
• Steps that parents can take to help their family lead a healthy lifestyle
You can download the booklet HERE or contact Health Promotion Resources on 0191 4335684 for your copy.
Posted by Tom Hall at 03:02 PM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2006
Questions and Answers from the School Food Trust
Have the new standards for school food been raising some questions? Well they have for other people too. Our National Healhy School colleagues from Newcastle have kindly shared some questions and answers from the School Food Trust. Click here to download the Q&As
You can download further information about the new standards for school food from www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk or
They can be ordered in quantities of up to 2000 from Rachel Underwood by email at the address below. Please give your full postal address, list which of the guides you would like and how many of the resources you would like.
Rachel Underwood
N9 Moorfoot
Sheffield S1 4PQ
Ph 0114 259 1169
Fax 0114 259 1291
rachel.underwood@sft.gsi.gov.uk
The booklets and leaflets that are available to date are;
•A guide to introducing the Government’s new food based standards for school lunches. (for lunchtime caterers and heads).
•School Food changing for the better – new school food standards and healthier packed lunches – a guide for parents and carers.
•A4 leaflet for parents on school food and healthier packed meals
•Various posters for the dining room environment
Posted by Tom Hall at 12:48 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2006
Healthy Eating in Gateshead Schools
It is important that children have the best possible start in life and to be successful in whatever they do and a healthier, well-balanced diet is a key, part of that and may also contribute to improved learning.
Child obesity levels are still rising, eating and learning about healthier diets at school and at home, as well as being more active, can help tackle this problem. Eating a well balanced diet from childhood can help protect against diseases in later life. Children need consistent and positive messages about food. This requires school to involve parents and pupils in making a 'whole school food policy'. The whole school approach as part of the new National Healthy School Status also includes physical activity, personal social and health education and emotional health and well being.
Posted by Alun Davies at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2006
Get Fruity for Cancer Prevention Week!
22nd – 28th May is Cancer Prevention Week, with the highlight of the campaign being Fruity Friday on Friday 26th May. The focus of the campaign this year is the 5 A DAY message, and how eating more fruit and vegetables can reduce your risk of cancer.
If you would like copies of campaign materials to help promote this campaign message, please contact the Health Promotion Resources Service for Gateshead on 0191 433 5684.
If you are doing anything for the campaign or if you have any comments about the resources…please let us know.
Posted by Tom Hall at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)
Balance It! Leaflet
This is a locally developed resource by a multi agency group, to promote a Healthy Balanced Diet based on the Balance of Good Health. This is now available from the Health Promotion Resource Service (Tel: 0191 433 5684) or can be downloaded below. Please feel free to use and share.
Posted by Tom Hall at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
Interested in what is going to be served up in schools?
Then you can download the New School Food Standards.
This includes the interim food-based standards (from Sept 06), the nutrient-based standards (from Sept 08 for primary schools and from Sept 09 for secondary and special schools), and the food-based standards (from Sept 08 for primary schools and from Sept 09 for secondary and special schools).
Trust me, it all makes more sense when you look at the document!
Posted by Tom Hall at 12:56 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2006
Food in Schools
Food – a fact of life, is a new, exciting website. The site is organised in two age phases 5 to 7 and 8 to 11.
For each of these phases, there is a teachers’ guide that provides lesson notes and explains how the resources can be used to cover curriculum objectives.
Each age phase contains a number of Key Facts. The Key Facts are key messages designed to ensure children develop a progressive understanding of healthy eating.
Colourful worksheets, Power Point slides, posters and interactive activities are just some of the free resources that will provide excellent support for teachers tackling the topic of healthy eating.
For further information visit – www.foodafactoflife.org.uk
Taste of Success – Active Kids – Get Cooking – is the new school cooking challenge open to all schools throughout 2006.
There are two categories for primary and secondary pupils.
For further details about prizes, entry requirement sand dates, visit the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) website www.nutrition.org.uk/akgc
Posted by Alun Davies at 08:57 AM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2005
Healthy Eating
Please refer to the Gateshead Healthy School Guidelines for further information with regard to Healthy Eating within Charter Point 6 Essential and Development Criteria.
Also refer to the Gateshead Healthy Eating Award - Guidelines and criteria.
For further information and advice please contact Don Sweeney at Dryden PDC Tel 0191 433 8667
Sources of further information linked to Healthy Eating in schools (Word)
Posted by Peter Bolger at 10:28 AM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2005
Gateshead NHS Primary Care Trust
Nutrition Strategy and a Strategy to prevent overweight and obesity and to support the reduction of overweight and obesity. January 2005
For further information visit www.healthpromotion.demon.co.uk
CEHI
CEHI Gateshead Centre for Enabling Health Improvement
Network for Health
For further information contact: CEHI Manager, Pat Elmes Tel. 0191 497 1475. email: cehi@ghpct.nhs.uk
www.cehi.org.uk
Choosing Health (DH) Department of Health
www.dh.gov.uk/publications
Posted by Peter Bolger at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2005
Gateshead Healthy School Award Guidelines 2004-05
The aims of the Gateshead Healthy School Award:
1. To encourage a whole school approach to health.
2. To contribute to raising achievements in school.
3. To increase the positive health opportunities that are available
for pupils, staff and visitors.
4. To promote and increase working between health promotion
providers and education establishments.
Documents downloads: format = PDF
Posted by Don Sweeney at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)
Healthy Eating Guidelines
It is important that schools develop a policy about how the principles of a balanced and varied diet are supported in the school. The policy will underpin the development of a consistent approach to food and nutrition, in relation to both food provision and the planned programme (curriculum). The policy must be shared with parents and pupils.
Download Guidelines (PDF: 18pp: 298KB)
Posted by Don Sweeney at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)