Table 3.
Recommendations based on primary school best practice for achieving an optimal primary school food environment
| Step | Examples of how to implement step | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Provide an inviting dining area with a relaxing atmosphere | Simple, low-cost changes, e.g. use of bunting, tablecloths and centre pieces can create a welcoming and comfortable café style environment. Introducing systems to reduce busyness (e.g. multiple serving points), allow time to eat (e.g. review length of lunch break or allocate specific eating and play times) and allow pupils to socialise with their friends while eating (e.g. packed lunch and school meal pupils siting together) |
| 2 | Present food attractively and offer food tasting | Present food in creative ways through use of serving platters, stands, individual serving portions, creative food cutting equipment or a salad trolley, display the daily menu and label or display foods on offer and allow pupils to taste foods |
| 3 | Reinforce healthy eating messages in the dining area | As well as displaying posters on healthy eating, catering staff could encourage eating such as taking all components of the meal or trying vegetables. Additionally, adults could eat in the canteen with pupils as role models and to promote conversation about food (e.g. rota for pupils parents or teaching staff) |
| 4 | Monitor adherence to break and packed lunch policies | Staff checking food brought in, contacting pupils parents if breached |
| 5 | Reinforce healthy eating through school food activities | Reinforce healthy eating through school food activities such as cookery club, chef demonstrations, food tasting sessions, themed food days in canteen and in the classroom and consider introducing school food activities with a healthy eating focus if not existing |
| 6 | Provide healthy food options at school events | Offer healthy food options at school events such as school plays, sports days, BBQ |
| 7 | Encourage parental involvement in school food | Inviting parents to school lunch, school food activities such as cookery and school food events such as themed food days |
| 8 | Promote pupil ownership of school food | Involve pupils in the process of planning school meals and allow them to give feedback on meals to catering staff as customers |