St Thomas's Senior National School, Jobstown, Tallaght, Co Dublin: Having taken part in a European project promoting healthy eating in schools in the mid-1990s, St Thomas's Senior National School embodies much of what schools countrywide strive to equal.
Its breakfast club, which operates from 8am every day, attracts 150 children out of a school population of 400 who enjoy a selection of juices, cereals, toast and tea. The healthy lunch programme means students and parents no longer have to pack any lunch box. At 9am, students receive an Actimel; at 10.55am they get milk, cheese or a rice cake and a piece of fruit; and at 12.50pm they get sandwiches with water and juices. Children in sixth class can have wraps or bagels.
Teacher Eithne O'Shea says each child's opportunity of completing a food order a week in advance and choosing between chicken, ham, tuna or jam sandwiches, water or juices, rice cakes or cheese strings is teaching them how to make healthy food choices. In addition, the home-school co-ordinator completes cooking courses with parents on how best to prepare healthy meals on a budget. The fourth class group also has a year of cookery classes.
Villiers Secondary School, NCR, Limerick city
As a boarding school, Villiers serves a range of meals over the course of the school day. Its tuck shop, which sold sweets and drinks, is closing in order to provide for a second cafe that will sell healthier foods.
The principal, Thomas Hardy, describes efforts to enforce healthy eating policies as an "uphill battle" which has become easier only through the constant surveying of students' eating preferences. The school's students' council meets school caterers once a term to discuss any complaints or suggestions for improving the menu.
Divine Word National School, Marlay Grange, Dublin
A healthy eating policy was devised by the school some years ago in consultation with parents, staff and children and was reviewed again this year. While even the slightest hint of chocolate on a bun is banned, according to teacher Susan Gibney, children are allowed a "treat" on Fridays.
Earlier this month, as part of health awareness week, parents and children were encouraged to walk to school in an initiative supported by South Dublin County Council. At school, each lunch break was marked with a different food theme. Following a competition for best healthy lunch recipes, the school plans to produce a recipe book for sale before Christmas.
