Why promote healthy lifestyles?
Research has shown that poor nutrition can be associated with lower academic achievement and poor school attendance. Teachers report improvements in attendance, attention, behaviour, and levels of concentration in schools and early childhood education services where healthy eating has become accepted practice.
National Administration Guideline (5) requires Boards of Trustees to promote healthy food and nutrition to students. The Ministry of Education has developed resources in consultation with the Ministry of Health to assist schools and early childhood education services in their focus on this area.
'Food and Nutrition for Healthy Confident Kids’ guidelines
These guidelines are designed to help early childhood education services, schools, and their communities develop environments that support healthy eating. They cover developing policies and procedures about food and beverages provided on site and promoting consistent messages about healthy eating.
View the guidelines on the Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) website.
‘Food and Nutrition for Healthy Confident Kids’ toolkit
The 'Food and Nutrition for Healthy, Confident Kids’ toolkit contains a range of resources which support the guidelines, including material which can be distributed to whānau and communities.
The English toolkit is available below. The following languages will be available shortly.
- Te reo Māori
- Samoan
- Niuean
- Tokelauan
Food and Beverage Classification System (FBCS)
The Ministry of Health’s Food and Beverage Classification System is designed as a practical tool to support early childhood education services and schools in implementing the Ministry of Education’s guidelines Food and Nutrition for Healthy, Confident Kids. The FBCS identifies recommended options for early childhood education services and schools wishing to provide, sell or promote healthy food and drink. Find out more about the FBCS at http://www.everyday-sometimes.org.nz/school/about-the-fbcs.
Other resources
Also available at http://healthylifestyles.tki.org.nz - case studies from schools around New Zealand successfully working to improve nutrition, physical activity levels and general wellbeing.