Table 2.
School food environment questionnaire completed by principals and catering staff in primary schools in NI (n 16)
| Healthy eating policies | n | % | Food activities | n | % | Food activities | n | % | School meals | n | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing healthy eating policy? | Have existing breakfast club? | 14 | 87·5 | Themed food days? | Average % taking school meals/ day? | ||||||
| Yes, school specific | 13 | 81·3 | Types of food served at breakfast? | Yes, regularly | 3 | 18·8 | 41–50 | 3 | 18·8 | ||
| Yes, general | 1 | 6·3 | Cereal and toast/breads | 14 | 100·0 | Yes, ad hoc | 11 | 68·8 | 51–60 | 4 | 25·0 |
| In development | 2 | 12·5 | Fruit/veg (including juice) | 8 | 57·1 | No | 2 | 12·5 | 61–70 | 3 | 18·8 |
| Milk/ cheese/ yoghurt | 6 | 42·9 | 71–80 | 3 | 18·8 | ||||||
| Eggs/ sausages | 3 | 21·4 | 81–90 | 1 | 6·3 | ||||||
| Water | 1 | 7·1 | Not stated | 2 | 12·5 | ||||||
| Other drink (hot drink/ juice unspecified) | 10 | 71·4 | |||||||||
| Years healthy eating policy in place? | % total n pupils attending breakfast club? | Types of themed food days? | % of FSM entitled pupils taking meals? | ||||||||
| In development | 2 | 12·5 | 5–10 | 5 | 35·7 | Special event | 5 | 35·7 | 0–25 | 1 | 6·3 |
| 0–10 years | 11 | 68·8 | 11–20 | 5 | 35·7 | Food from other cultures | 3 | 21·4 | 26–50 | 2 | 12·5 |
| 11–20 years | 3 | 18·8 | 21–25 | 3 | 21·4 | Linked with curricular topics | 1 | 7·1 | 51–75 | 3 | 18·8 |
| Not stated | 1 | 7·1 | Combination of the above | 4 | 28·6 | 76–100 | 8 | 50·0 | |||
| Not stated | 1 | 7·1 | Not stated | 2 | 12·5 | ||||||
| Policy communicated to parents? | Food provision at break? | Chef/ cookery demonstrations? | 5 | 31·3 | Does menu choice impact n taking meals? | ||||||
| Yes | 13 | 81·3 | Yes, all pupils | 8 | 50·0 | Yes, healthy meals ad hoc | 1 | 20·0 | Yes | 15 | 93·4 |
| In development | 2 | 12·5 | Yes, nursery and younger pupils | 3 | 18·8 | Yes, healthy snacks ad hoc | 3 | 60·0 | Not stated | 1 | 6·3 |
| Not stated | 1 | 6·3 | No | 5 | 31·3 | Yes, produce from school allotment ad hoc | 1 | 20·0 | |||
| Method policy communicated? | Types of food provided at break? | Cookery club? | Foods stated as popular menu items | ||||||||
| Verbal communication | 11 | 84·6 | Fruit | 5 | 45·5 | Yes, regularly | 5 | 31·3 | Chips | 12 | 75·0 |
| School newsletter | 10 | 76·9 | Fruit and healthy drinks, e.g. milk/ water | 1 | 9·1 | Yes, ad hoc | 4 | 25·0 | Chicken curry | 6 | 37·5 |
| Paper or electronic copy | 9 | 69·2 | Fruit and bread/toast | 3 | 27·3 | No | 7 | 43·8 | Roast dinner | 6 | 37·5 |
| Posters/signs around school | 9 | 69·2 | Fruit and yoghurt | 1 | 9·1 | What do pupils make at cookery club? | Pizza | 5 | 31·3 | ||
| School website/ social media | 7 | 53·8 | Fruit and crackers and cheese | 1 | 9·1 | Healthy meals/ snacks | 2 | 22·2 | Burger | 5 | 31·3 |
| Texts to remind parents | 1 | 7·7 | Less healthy meals/ snacks | 2 | 22·2 | Sausages | 3 | 18·8 | |||
| Not stated | 1 | 7·7 | Healthy and less healthy meals/snacks | 5 | 55·6 | Chicken goujons/ nuggets | 3 | 18·8 | |||
| Does policy include packed lunch advice? | Other food provision | Does your school use a garden/ allotment? | % food waste estimated in canteen? | ||||||||
| Yes guidance | 10 | 62·5 | Afterschool (fruit) | 1 | 6·3 | Education | 2 | 12·5 | 0–10 | 5 | 31·3 |
| Yes requirements | 3 | 18·8 | Supper club | 0 | 0·0 | Education and tasting | 1 | 6·3 | 11–20 | 4 | 25·0 |
| In development | 2 | 12·5 | Education, tasting, pupils take home | 6 | 37·5 | 21–30 | 4 | 25·0 | |||
| Not stated | 1 | 6·3 | Education, pupils take home | 1 | 6·3 | 31–40 | 2 | 12·5 | |||
| Education, tasting, pupils take home, canteen | 3 | 18·8 | Not stated | 1 | 6·3 | ||||||
| Don’t have one/ not used | 3 | 18·8 | |||||||||
| Does policy include break snack advice? | Food tasting sessions held at school? | Food given to parents at school events? | 13 | 81·3 | Types of food commonly wasted? | ||||||
| Yes guidance | 7 | 43·8 | Yes, regularly | 2 | 12·5 | T/C +/or sweet foods (biscuits, buns, dessert) | 6 | 46·2 | Potatoes | 9 | 56·3 |
| Yes requirements | 6 | 37·5 | Yes, ad-hoc | 10 | 62·5 | T/C/juice +/or sweet foods, fruit | 3 | 23·1 | Vegetables | 8 | 50·0 |
| In development | 2 | 12·5 | No | 4 | 25·0 | T/C +/or sweet foods, sandwiches, hot meal | 2 | 15·4 | Bread, rice, pasta | 5 | 31·3 |
| Not stated | 1 | 6·3 | Types of foods at food tasting sessions? | BBQ items | 1 | 7·7 | |||||
| Special occasions | 4 | 33·3 | Sample of school meals | 1 | 7·7 | ||||||
| Food from other cultures | 3 | 25·0 | |||||||||
| Linked with curricular topics | 6 | 50·0 | |||||||||
| School programmes (FAST/ STEM) | 3 | 25·0 | |||||||||
| Health and fitness week | 1 | 8·3 | |||||||||
| How is policy enforced? | Fruit and vegetable sampling | 1 | 8·3 | Parental involvement in food activities? | Do pupils give feedback on meals to caterers? | ||||||
| Staff encourage pupils to keep policy | 7 | 43·8 | School events | 5 | 31·3 | Yes (e.g. pupil councils) | 7 | 43·8 | |||
| Parents reminded of policy if breached, pupils cannot eat unsuitable foods | 4 | 25·0 | Bring an adult to lunch days | 1 | 6·3 | No | 8 | 50·0 | |||
| Not stated/ not clear | 5 | 31·3 | Parents bring in food from their cultures | 1 | 6·3 | Not stated | 1 | 6·3 | |||
| No/ not clear/ not stated | 9 | 56·3 |