THE Public Health Agency (PHA) has launched a resource pack designed to assist nursery schools and playgroups to provide healthy snacks at break times.
All nursery schools and playgroups in Northern Ireland will receive the pack - 'Healthy breaks for pre-school children' - which includes a poster and information leaflets for parents explaining why a healthy break is so important for pre-schoolers and tips for healthy breaks.
"Break-time snack schemes operate in many pre-school settings across Northern Ireland but they are implemented in different ways," according to Judith Hanvey, who is the regional food in schools co-ordinator, appointed jointly by the PHA and the Department of Education. "The PHA has developed this new guidance so that any existing or future schemes have the information that they need to deliver a healthy break programme."
Judith explained why a healthy break is so important for pre-school pupils. "Young children have small stomachs but high requirements for energy (calories) and nutrients. This means that healthy snacks between meals are very important to make sure that they get all the nourishment they need. "Childhood is also an important time to establish good eating and drinking habits for later life."
* For more details see www.publichealth.hscni.net.