Three steps to a good nutrition policy

Step 1: Create your nutrition policy

By setting out your school's vision on healthy food and drink in the school policy, you embed healthy eating and drinking within the school. Use our example nutrition policy (Word, 1.5 MB) as the basis for your new policy. You can adopt it in its entirety or use parts of it.

Step by step towards a healthier school

Making the nutrition policy at your school healthier does not have to happen all at once. The healthier school inspiration list offers inspiration for making your school healthier step by step. It is a useful overview of products that are good and less good choices. This allows you to make your school healthier gradually.

Examples from other schools

For inspiration, see how the following schools have put their own spin on the policy:

Creating support

Creating support among your own staff, parents and pupils is very important when developing a nutrition policy. It is not simply a matter of drawing up rules and being done with it. By involving everyone from the outset, you ensure that the policy is communicated and supported more effectively. It is also good to explain why you have drawn up a nutrition policy. Decisions will then be implemented sooner and more easily, and you are less likely to encounter resistance. For example, let colleagues have their say during a staff meeting, send a survey to parents, ask them for input by email and put up a suggestion box.

Need inspiration? View an example invitation for a parents' council meeting.

Step 2: Communicate your new nutrition policy

Now that the nutrition policy has been coordinated with staff and parents, step 2 follows: communication. Try to involve staff, parents and pupils as much as possible. What are the consequences? Why were certain choices made? How much freedom do they have?

Use all the resources at your disposal

Use the resources you have to communicate about the new nutrition policy. Think of the school guide, newsletter and website. Explain on your website how your school views healthy eating and what is and is not permitted. Parents can look it up again if they are unsure. Parents of new pupils can also see exactly what your position is. You can also use posters or creative or playful methods. And do not forget social media, if you use it. One tip: keep the tone positive and show what this brings to everyone.

Examples of communication

To help you communicate your policy, we have created the following examples. You are free to adopt or use them.

Parents' questions

Some parents may have questions about the changes. Explain why the choices were made and show in a fun and creative way what is possible. For example, what fun treats can be made with fruit? And what can be served on a fruit day? You can also point out that the Netherlands Nutrition Centre considers a nutrition policy important; for many parents, this helps with the acceptance process. Many other schools also find that parents are happy when a school takes healthy steps. After all, they want what is best for their child.

Do you notice that the steps you want to take are too big for parents and that you encounter resistance? Then it may help to take a step back. Make a plan to introduce the nutrition policy gradually. This allows parents to get used to the changes gradually.

Food fads

Parents may also have substantive questions about nutrition. Which bread is healthy? And what about milk and meat, for example? These questions often arise from current food fads. Or parents may have read or heard something about nutrition in the media that worries them. But not everything you hear is true, and nutrition science is complex. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre is a reliable, independent organisation that understands the complex world of nutrition. In our advice, we follow the scientific consensus: what most scientists agree on. We do not simply follow every fad. Our advice is scientifically substantiated, reliable and practical. You can therefore confidently refer parents with questions to our website or other materials. Or use our information to answer parents' questions. View our most frequently asked questions about nutrition.

Step 3: Keep it lively and fun

In this step, you ensure that parents, pupils and teachers comply with the new policy. Give them time to get used to it. It may take some time before the policy becomes fully integrated into your school's identity.

Rest assured: many schools that have adapted their policy report that it becomes automatic after a while. It then becomes the most normal thing in the world to bring healthy treats and drink water.

It often works to reward parents, pupils and teachers when they do things well, and to show what is already going well. For example, photograph pupils who bring healthy treats and mention them in the newsletter.

Keep reminding people

Embedding a nutrition policy sometimes requires perseverance. Sometimes it fades somewhat after a while. Therefore, remind pupils and parents regularly about the new nutrition policy. This can also be done in a playful, creative way. For example, with fun posters in the corridors or an interactive information evening for parents. Another example: Create a ‘Fruit Corner’ in the classroom, fully decorated around the theme and including a fruit collection point.

If something goes ‘wrong’

Has a large biscuit nevertheless ended up in a lunchbox, or has something been given as a treat that does not fit your new policy? Being too strict can be counterproductive. Point out to parents in a friendly manner that different ‘rules’ now apply.

Consider what you will do when the policy is not followed. For example, will you send less healthy treats home? A standard note in the lunchbox when it contains something that does not fit the policy may be a solution. Pay attention to the tone of the notes. Does it match the way your school generally communicates with parents? Our tip: Keep it friendly, with a wink.

Use these standard notes for:

Use whatever you find useful, but think carefully about what will work best for your school.

Evaluation

It is useful to evaluate internally after a while how things are going. Are parents following the policy? What can we do to bring it to people's attention even more?

Integrated Child Centre? A joint policy makes sense

Is your school part of an Integrated Child Centre (IKC)? For parents, children and staff, it provides clarity if the same rules apply at the affiliated childcare centre and out-of-school care (BSO). It then forms a logical whole. Therefore, choose an integrated policy. For example: A child who routinely receives water at childcare also receives it when moving on to primary school and when using out-of-school care. This also allows you to align your treat policy. IKC het Spectrum received the Healthy School quality mark in 2017. Alongside the family, they see the IKC as the perfect place to practise making healthy choices and developing healthy habits. They focus on the following areas:

  • Nutrition (making conscious choices)
  • Exercise (feeling fit)
  • Well-being (feeling good about yourself)
  • Living environment (safe and stimulating)

Read more on the Spectrum website. It is also important for childcare and out-of-school care organisations to have and comply with a healthy nutrition policy. Would you like to know more about healthy eating for childcare and out-of-school care? View tips, example materials and an example policy for childcare (ages 0–12).