Kate Russell HSCL coordinator.Our Lady Queen of Peace School,

Janesboro, Limerick .

Food awareness in our school.The Cook It programme.

Our Lady Queen of Peace School.

• DEIS band 1 school• 275 pupils. Junior Infants to 6th

• 30 Preschool• 30 Early Start• 240 families approx• 8 Traveller families.

General challenges• Homelessness• Unemployment• Drug & alcohol abuse.• Attendance issues.• Literacy issues among parents• Single parent families• Bereavement, suicide, murder, imprisonment.• Parental attitude towards education. (Bad experiences in school themselves, early school leavers)• Very young parents

School Healthy Food Initiatives• School healthy eating policy. 2014. Christine Gurnett.• Breakfast club• Homework club• “Caranbola” lunches• Sponge cakes & Spellings• He Cooks• School garden• Nutritionist• Public Health nurse.• Incredible Years Parenting programme.

Why ?• Children hungry in school.• Poor nutrition and poor dietary decisions-concentration.• Processed foods and additives -mood and temperament. • An over reliance on processed food -obesity and

associated social rejection.• low intake of fruits, vegetables.• Peer behaviours and opinions become more important

the older a child gets. • Children are more likely to eat something they prepared.• Children have power to influence parents.• Children presenting with specific eating and food issues.

Specific challenges• General poor food awareness & education.• Lack of confidence• Literacy• Tradition• Poverty• Homelessness• Poor budgeting & planning• Engaging parents in adult & family learning.• Priorities change when your life is in crisis.

Cook it Programme. Collaborative approach.

• Public Health Nurse for Travellers.• HSCL • Principal• Christine Gurnett, Senior community dietician HSE• Class Teacher• Alannagh O’ Byrne. Schools Health Promotions

Officer• SCP• Parent

Target Group.• 5th class Traveller child targeted by PHN.• Fourteen girls in 5th.• Five identified as having specific food/health

issues.• Target parent to train in programme and co

deliver it with HSCL• Planned to do “Cook it” programme with this

group before Summer holidays.• Target parents of this group to do programme

later.

Needs

• Healthy eating. • Making healthy decisions. • The effect food has on our bodies. Skin, hair, nails, weight,

energy etc.• How to cook very tasty healthy food fast food only as a treat.• The importance of food safety/hygiene.• Quantity & quality of the foods we eat• Poor food selection and preferences for only a small number

of foods among children• The dangers of skipping meals.• The importance of an adequate intake of carbohydrates,

proteins, fibres, vitamins & minerals.• The need to reduce fats and processed foods. • The importance of exercise.

Cook it programme

Programme

Supplementary material

Learners book

Cook It• Six week, structured but flexible nutrition education programme • Each session contains background information on the particular food group,

plus suggested activities and recipes.• SESSION ONE . INTRODUCTORY SESSION - This session introduces the idea of

healthy eating through the use of the Food Pyramid, & includes essential information on good food hygiene.

• SESSIONS TWO TO FIVE - Each of these sessions focuses on one of the four main food groups:

• Bread, cereals, potatoes, pasta and rice;• Fruit and vegetables;• Milk, cheese and yoghurts;• Meat, fish and alternatives.• SESSION SIX - This session examines the fifth food group: foods containing fat

and foods containing sugar.• Each session contains background information on the particular food group,

plus suggested activities and recipes.

General Outcomes• Enjoyment• Knowledge• Willingness• Peer support• Pride• Influence• Practical skills• Independent learning• Responsibility

Specific outcomes.• Majority of parents signed up for January

programme.• Addressed specific eating issues.• Marked decrease in fast food.• Pupils learned how to cook simple nutritious

food.• Children continued to use recipes at home• Broader knowledge of food & nutrition.• Plan annual programme with 5th class & parents

Challenges.

• Finance for resources & materials.• Engaging target parents• Training parents as facilitators• Boys more difficult to engage