Not having to worry
Primary School Manjefiek – a merger between the primary schools Het Palet and Markus – is located in the Malberg neighbourhood. “Here, some things cannot be taken for granted,” Kim explains. “You see many single-parent families, and there are issues surrounding safety, healthy nutrition, lifestyle and poverty. And children bring those issues with them into the school.” In the years that followed, the school team became increasingly conscious of one question: how can we ensure that our pupils do not have to worry and can focus on learning?
Improving young children’s lifestyles
“When the team began thinking more concretely about healthy lunches and exercise, Healthy Primary School of the Future came our way,” Kim explains. She read the findings of the research by Maastricht University and was convinced. “The combination of exercise and healthy nutrition immediately appealed to me and my team. It allows you to make a real difference to the lifestyle of young children.” And so, about four years ago, Manjefiek started with Healthy Primary School of the Future. All children are at school from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and they all receive a healthy lunch.
Not cutting back on break or lunchtime
The school consciously chose not to cut back on break time. Kim: “Children really need that half-hour break to exercise. And the eating time simply lasts half an hour.” The children eat together with their class teacher. “It is a real shared moment. They talk about what is on the table. They try new products, such as hummus or certain vegetables. At the same time, they learn how to behave at the table.” The kindergarten children already spread their own sandwiches. “Their fine motor skills have improved enormously. They also learn to set the table. For example: what goes on the left and what goes on the right.”
What is served?
The lunch is varied: brown bread, all kinds of wholegrain crackers and 30+ cheese, as well as apple syrup and sugar-free fruit spread. The children drink milk and, in winter, sometimes unsweetened tea. Cucumber, cherry tomatoes and carrots are also served. “We get through forty to fifty cucumbers a week here,” Kim says with a laugh. About eighty percent of the food fits within the guidelines of the Wheel of Five; for the rest, the school also makes conscious choices. “Every week there is a product to try. Mackerel is popular. Smoked salmon too.”
Parents and neighbourhood residents help out
A permanent team of parents and neighbourhood residents helps out. “It is a major operation to prepare lunch for 280 pupils.” Kim also tries to involve mothers from the neighbourhood in the lunch programme. “Some cannot find work because they do not yet speak the language well, but here they do participate.” Their influences can be seen on the menu. “They loved the Moroccan soup.”
Seeing others eat encourages eating
At the beginning, Kim had many conversations with parents about their questions and doubts concerning the concept. “I heard everything. For example: ‘My daughter only eats white bread.’ Or: ‘Our son does not drink water.’” Kim invited parents to come and see for themselves, because seeing other children eat something encourages their own child to eat it too. They saw with their own eyes that their son or daughter suddenly did eat brown bread or drink water. “The wonderful thing is that the most critical parents now help with the lunch programme.”
A conscious choice for Manjefiek
By now, the healthy lunch has become fully integrated. Some parents even consciously choose Manjefiek because our school embraces Healthy Primary School of the Future. Kim says with a smile: “We now more often hear parents say: ‘My daughter likes that cheese of yours so much.’ Or: ‘Our son wants to eat mackerel, and I think it smells terrible.’ I think that is wonderful.”
More exercise, better motor skills
The effects are becoming increasingly visible. Eating habits have changed. And the fruit during the short break cannot be supplied fast enough. In addition, the pupils exercise for half an hour three times a week. Kim: “Our physical education teacher teaches all age groups, including the toddlers. You can see that our pupils’ motor skills are improving significantly as a result. Kindergarten children are already doing forward rolls, and older pupils are even doing somersaults.”
A full stomach influences concentration
Kim also sees a difference socially and emotionally. “If children have not had breakfast, they can eat something here. And no one has to worry about lunch. Everyone gets the same thing. That brings peace of mind. This calm, in turn, has a positive influence on their concentration and behaviour.”
The same opportunities for every child
“I am proud of my team. Every one of us believes that we are making a difference this way,” Kim says. “In the Netherlands, it still matters where your cradle is. That has a major impact on your future. With this programme, children at least have the same opportunities at school. That motivates us every day, because a healthy future starts with the young. We must set change in motion with them.”