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National Childhood Network (NCN)

Nutrition

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition

In this section we hope to provide you with a range of resources that support and promote good nutrition.

New training for Birth to Three and Preschool on nutrition coming soon.

Healthy Snacks for 1 - 4 year Olds

New Food Pyramid for 1 - 4 year Olds

An infographic and leaflet on Lunchboxes in the light of COVID, which are the result of a collaboration between NCN and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA).

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Infographic - English
Time_for_Lunch_infographic_Irisha
Infographic - Irish
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Download Leaflet - English PDF
Lunch_box_Irish_1
Download Leaflet - Irish PDF

Encouraging Healthy Eating

Early childhood and after school services can provide a natural supportive environment for promoting healthy eating behaviours. All staff members have an important health promoting role to play. Promoting healthy eating behaviours requires a whole team approach.

Click on the links below for more information:

Healthy Diet

The Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-School services (2004) state:

“The pre-school service provides an excellent setting for promoting positive habits and attitudes to healthy eating and being active as part of a healthy lifestyle. The provision of nutritious food positively enhances not only a child’s health but also allows the child to take full advantage of the learning opportunities provided in pre-schools”.

Benefits of Healthy Eating

Healthy eating helps:
• promote optimal growth and development
• prevent early health problems such as;

  • tooth decay
  • obesity
  • constipation
  • anaemia etc.

• play a role in preventing long-term chronic health problems such as;

  • heart disease
  • diabetes
  • cancer
  • stroke

• lay a good foundation for good health throughout life

START is a public health campaign from safefood, the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Healthy Ireland, the Health Service Executive and the Public Health Agency.

https://www.safefood.net/start/about

 

 

Here you will find a range of information on Food Safety, Healthy Eating and Recipes

https://www.safefood.net/

 

Incredible Edibles is now a well established healthy eating and horticultural growing programme for Irish primary pupils. The aim of the project is getting schools growing and encouraging healthy eating within schools and at home.

Participating schools are sent FREE grow packs that contain everything they need to start their own school garden, including seeds to grow strawberries, potatoes, lettuce, spinach, chives, carrots and turnips, as well as wildflowers and other materials!

https://www.agriaware.ie/incredible-edibles-programme/ie-about-us/