School Nutrition & Hydration Week
How to Plan and Sign Up for Your School's Nutrition & Hydration Week!
Join Us for School's Nutrition & Hydration Week
Hello Schools! We are delighted to invite your school to participate in an exciting and educational initiative: School Nutrition & Hydration Week.
This week-long event, led by a CORU Registered Dietitian and trained Psychotherapist, is designed to engage the entire school community—pupils, staff, and families—in learning about the importance of good nutrition and proper hydration for whole body and brain health.
Why Run a School's Nutrition & Hydration Week?
Running a Nutrition & Hydration Week in schools is an excellent way to highlight the importance of good nutrition and hydration for overall health and wellbeing.
Proper nutrition is not just about maintaining physical health; it is also crucial for brain health and learning. The brain uses 20% of the energy we consume and is composed of 60% fat, emphasising the need for a nutrient-rich diet to support cognitive function.
Why This Week Matters
Childhood is a period of life characterised by the fastest growth and development after infancy. The dietary habits formed during this stage significantly impact a child's well-being, health, and overall quality of life. Enabling children to make conscious and healthy dietary decisions early on can lead to healthier lives with greater longevity. However, inadequate nutrition knowledge often leads to poor dietary choices, contributing in later life to various health conditions such as obesity and malnutrition.
Research by Rathi et al. (2017), Baute et al. (2017), de Vlieger et al. (2019), and Cooper and Contento (2019) highlights the critical need for nutrition education, especially among young children, to foster healthier communities. Given the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, it's clear there's an urgent need to raise awareness about good nutrition and healthy food choices from a young age.
References
- Rathi, N., Riddell, L., & Worsley, A. (2017). What influences urban Indian secondary school students’ food consumption? – A qualitative study. Appetite, 116, 57-65.
- Baute, V., Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., Hamilton, H. A., Chaput, J. P., & Colman, I. (2017). Use of the Health Action Process Approach framework to predict physical activity in adolescents. Health Education & Behavior, 44(5), 699-708.
- de Vlieger, N. M., Riley, N., Miller, A., Collins, C. E., & Bucher, T. (2019). Nutrition education in the Australian New South Wales primary school curriculum: A critical analysis. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 30(2), 191-198.
- Cooper, S. B., & Contento, I. R. (2019). Effects of a school-based intervention on the physical activity and nutrition knowledge and behaviours of middle school students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour, 51(1), 11-22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the school Nutrition & Hydration week?
Valerie, a CORU Registered Dietitian with 30 years of experience working with the HSE and a trained psychotherapist, is dedicated to imparting nutritional information in a positive, educational, and fun way.
Valerie, who is also a Mum, has extensive experience working with children, young people and their families and knows first-hand the challenge involved in getting children to eat a healthy diet.
This week-long programme aims to equip pupils, staff, and families with the knowledge to make healthier dietary choices, that benefit both their bodies and minds.
What are the Components of the School Nutrition & Hydration Week?
To make School Nutrition and Hydration Week engaging and effective, we have developed a comprehensive programme that includes the following components:
1. Staff Workshop: A dedicated session for staff to introduce the week and cover key nutritional concepts, empowering staff to support pupils effectively.
2. Introductory Email with Colourful Infographics: Kick off the week with a vibrant email introducing the key themes of the week, ensuring everyone is informed about the week and its key messages.
3. Daily WhatsApp Messages: Receive educational sound bites each day to share with the school community, packed with useful nutrition tips and fun facts.
4. Resources for Pupils: Provide pupils with engaging materials to help them understand the importance of nutrition and hydration.
5. Workshop for 5th and 6th Class Pupils: Special sessions tailored for older pupils to delve deeper into nutrition topics, fostering a solid foundation for lifelong healthy habits as they transition into secondary school.
6. Live/Recorded Webinar - Healthy Eating for All the Family: Engage families with a webinar led by our CORU Registered Dietitian, offering practical advice and insights into family nutrition. This webinar can be hosted by the school on an evening or a recording can be forward to all parents.
How Do I Sign Up to Run a Nutrition & Hydration Week?
1. Express Interest: Once you and your staff decide to run the week, contact Valerie to check her availability on your preferred dates.
2. Appoint a Key School Contact Person: This individual will help coordinate the event with Valerie.
3. Appoint a Key PA Contact Person: This individual will help coordinate the daily what app messages during the week with Valerie.
4. Plan the Week: Valerie will set up a meeting with the key contact person to put together the plan for the week.
What is the Role of the Key Contact Person?
The key contact person will collaborate with Valerie to ensure the week runs smoothly. Here is a checklist to help:
1. Schedule the Week: Pencil in the date of the Nutrition & Hydration Week.
2. Optional Introductory Talk: Decide if the school staff wants an introductory talk by Valerie to delve deeper into the key themes for the week and outline its key activities.
3. Agree on the Theme: Select a theme for the week from the options provided.
4. Order Resources: Review and order resources for each class group.
5. Daily WhatsApp Messages: Agree on the content of the educational WhatsApp messages provided by Valerie. Arrange daily distribution of these messages through the school during the Nutrition & Hydration week or liaise with the Parents Association (PA) for distribution.
6. Webinar Arrangements: Determine if a live or recorded webinar on "Healthy Eating for All the Family" is preferable and arrange accordingly.
7. Introduction Email: Ensure the introduction email from Valerie is forwarded by the school to all families.
8. Workshops for Pupils: Schedule the workshop for the 5th and 6th class pupils. Decide if an optional tasting session is suitable for the group.
Has the Nutrition & Hydration week been evaluated?
The Nutrition & Hydration Week has been evaluated - please download it below.
When is the best time to run a Nutrition & Hydration week?
Research highlights the importance of nutrition education for young children to support better physical and mental health. Schools can choose to run this week at any time - the start of the school year or after Christmas are optimal times to reinforce healthy habits.
How often should the school run a Nutrition & Hydration week?
It is recommended that schools run a Nutrition & Hydration Week every two years to ensure each group of 5th and 6th class pupil’s benefits from this educational initiative before transitioning to post-primary school.
Does the Registered Dietitian need to talk to the staff?
The Dietitian is very aware of the huge demands on staff and aware that this session may not fit with their schedules and timetables.
It is not a necessary part of the week and does not need to take place to ensure the success of the week.
Valerie is however offering it as an option which can be considered by schools as there are several reasons why it can be beneficial:
Promoting Awareness and Understanding
• Clarifying Objectives: Clearly outlining the goals and purpose of Nutrition and Hydration Week helps staff understand its importance and the outcomes it seeks to achieve.
• Educational Insight: By discussing the latest nutritional science, the dietitian can provide staff with valuable insights into why proper nutrition and hydration are crucial for students' physical and cognitive development.
Enhancing Engagement and Participation
• Boosting Staff Engagement: When staff are well-informed and enthusiastic about the initiative, they are more likely to actively participate and encourage students to do the same.
• Answering Questions: A session with the dietitian allows staff to ask any questions they might have about the activities, resources, or nutritional concepts being introduced during the week.
Professional Development
• Continuing Education: The session can serve as a professional development opportunity for staff, expanding their knowledge about nutrition and its impact on student health and learning.
Can I choose different Themes for my schools Nutrition & Hydration Week?
Yes. Schools can choose from the following themes, each packed with valuable lessons:
Theme A: Food to Fuel Your Brain
• Focus: The relevance and role of food in supporting brain and whole body health for learning with emphasis on the role of omega three polyunsaturated fatty acids. Also the benefits of fruit and vegetables to support whole body and brain health
Other Key Messages:
• Food is Just Food: Emphasise balanced eating without labelling foods as "good" or "bad."
• 14 Exposures: Encourage trying new or unliked foods multiple times to develop a taste for them.
• Fabulous Fibre: Highlight the importance of plant-based eating for the body, brain, and gut.
• Rethink Your Drink: Educate about the sugar content in commonly consumed beverages.
Theme B: Healthy Eating Using the Food Pyramid
• Focus: Understanding the benefits of each food group and promoting healthy eating habits from a young age.
Other Key Messages:
• Food is Just Food: Emphasise balanced eating without labelling foods as "good" or "bad."
• 14 Exposures: Encourage trying new foods or unliked foods multiple times to develop a taste for them.
• Fabulous Fibre: Highlight the importance of plant-based eating for the body, brain, and gut.
• Rethink Your Drink: Educate about the sugar content in commonly consumed beverages.
Theme C: Plant-Focused Eating
• Focus: Increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, and high-fibre foods, benefiting the body, brain, and planet.
Other Key Messages:
• Food is Just Food: Emphasise balanced eating without labelling foods as "good" or "bad."
• 14 Exposures: Encourage trying new and unliked foods multiple times to develop a taste for them.
• Fabulous Fibre: Highlight the importance of plant-based eating for the body, brain, and gut.
• Rethink Your Drink: Educate about the sugar content in commonly consumed beverages.
Is it better for the school to host a live webinar or to send parents a pre recorded webinar?
This is up to you the school to decide. Families are busy and getting parents to sign up to a live webinar takes time and work to promote. The pre recorded webinar can be posted to parents and they can watch in their own time. Putting a time limit on the viewing of this webinar can also get parents more motivated to watch in the time allocated.
What is the content of the webinar?
The pre recorded webinar includes the following content which will be of interest to families:
- Healthy eating using the food pyramid as a guide looking at dietary variety, balance and adequacy.
- How to get enough calcium in your diet for healthy bones.
- Vitamin D – how to meet your requirements.
- Brain foods – what are they and how to include in your families diet.
- Tips for managing children and sweets and raising healthy eaters.
- How to manage fussy and faddy eaters.
- Supplements - ones to take and ones to avoid.
- Hydration – suitable drinks for all the family.
What is the cost of running a School Nutrition & Hydration week?
Please make contact with Valerie on info@gntc.ie or (087) 3800890 to review the cost of running the Nutrition & Hydration week for your school.
How do I sign up to run a Nutrition & Hydration week?
Running a Nutrition & Hydration Week is a valuable initiative to instil healthy eating habits in children. By engaging pupils, staff, and families, we can foster a school community that values nutrition and understands its critical role in maintaining overall health and wellbeing.
To sign up and plan your school's Nutrition & Hydration Week, contact Valerie today and take the first step towards a healthier school community!
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