Written Question · S3W-24312 · Session 3
What action it is taking to encourage and promote healthier food options for young people at school.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage and promote healthier food options for young people at school.
The answer
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the Scottish diet and we have taken action to build on the excellent work in Scottish schools to provide and promote healthier food options by introducing new nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools.
The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 (the Act) requires local authorities to ensure that food and drink provided in Scottish schools comply with The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008. These regulations were introduced in primary schools in August 2008 and will be introduced in all secondary schools in August 2009. In September 2008 we published guidance to help those involved in providing food and drinks in schools to implement the regulations. More information on the Act and the regulations is available on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/foodnutrition.
The Act also requires that all schools are health promoting and, within the school environment, children and young people learn about healthy eating and healthy living. In May 2007 we issued guidance for local authorities and schools to support them as they take this work forward. This guidance, along with the Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes for Health and Wellbeing together with the accompanying principles and practice document ,which were published in April 2009, describes the expectations upon individuals, schools and local authorities for promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people: www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/responsibilityofall/healthandwellbeing/index.asp.
Among other things, pupils will learn about all aspects of healthy eating, from creating healthy food options to understanding hygienic practices and develop an understanding of the relationship between food, health and wellbeing. They will also explore various issues regarding food, including sourcing and production and its environmental impact.
The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 (the Act) requires local authorities to ensure that food and drink provided in Scottish schools comply with The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008. These regulations were introduced in primary schools in August 2008 and will be introduced in all secondary schools in August 2009. In September 2008 we published guidance to help those involved in providing food and drinks in schools to implement the regulations. More information on the Act and the regulations is available on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/foodnutrition.
The Act also requires that all schools are health promoting and, within the school environment, children and young people learn about healthy eating and healthy living. In May 2007 we issued guidance for local authorities and schools to support them as they take this work forward. This guidance, along with the Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes for Health and Wellbeing together with the accompanying principles and practice document ,which were published in April 2009, describes the expectations upon individuals, schools and local authorities for promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people: www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence/responsibilityofall/healthandwellbeing/index.asp.
Among other things, pupils will learn about all aspects of healthy eating, from creating healthy food options to understanding hygienic practices and develop an understanding of the relationship between food, health and wellbeing. They will also explore various issues regarding food, including sourcing and production and its environmental impact.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-24312 by reference.