A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO HEALTHY EATING AND A …

1 RESPECT FOR ALL FRAMEWORK Version 1: 02/15. A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO. A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: HEALTHY EATING AND. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. POLICY. FEBRU. ARY 2. o15. 1. 2. RESPECT FOR ALL FRAMEWORK Version 1: 02/15. A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO A. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: HEALTHY EATING AND. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. POLICY. The Ministry for Education and Employment and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Health, within the Ministry for Energy and Health, would like to acknowledge the work of and thank the following: Contributors and Acknowledgements Coordinators of Project Ms Doriette Agius Dr Charmaine Gauci Ms Alison Aquilina Ms Anna Maria Gilson Ms Natalie Armstrong Mr Christopher Attard Contributors Ms Margaret Attard Mintoff Dr Mariella Borg Buontempo Ms Stefania Attard Vella Ms Lorraine Dimech Magrin Mr George Borg Mr Stephen Grima Ms Daphne Borg Ms Lucienne Pace Ms Therese Borg Mifsud Mr Kenneth Scicluna Dr Mario Caruana Dr Paula Vassallo Dr Claire Copperstone Ms Mariella Farrugia Editorial Team Ms Josette Fenech Ms Dolores Gauci Ms Lara Gerada Dr Charmaine Gauci Ms Stephania Grima Ms Anna Maria Gilson Ms Elizabeth Mallia Ms

2 Elizabeth Pisani Ms Charlene Vassallo Ms Sonia Muscat Dr Suzanne Piscopo Mr George Said Zammit Ms Helen Sciberras Ms Micheline Sciberras Ms Charlene Vassallo Ms Winnie Alfrida Vella Ms Stephanie Zammit Dr Elaine Zerafa Student Councils SCHOOL Councils 1. CONTENT. Message from the Minister 3. Message from the Parliamentary Secretary 5. Terminology 6. Abbreviations 7. 01 Vision and Aims 8. 02 Background 9. 03 Legislation 12. 04 EATING Behaviours of Children and Adolescents 13. 05 Physical Activities 19. 06 Overweight and Obesity 23. 07 Allergies 26. 08 Related Documents 27. 09 Owners 28. 10 Review Date 29. 11 References 3O. 2. RESPECT FOR ALL FRAMEWORK Version 1: 02/15.

3 Message by the Minister for Education and Employment My Ministry is committed to implementing HEALTHY food, improved nutrition and the Education for Life' concept which is physical activity high in priority on every promoted by UNESCO through its four SCHOOL agenda. Pillars of Learning namely: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and The success of this Policy requires that our learning to be. schools work together with policymakers, parents and communities to create an An integral component of the learning to be', environment where students eat healthfully, is learning how to make HEALTHY choices and become physically fit and develop lifelong live a HEALTHY life.

4 The overall consumption habits that contribute to wellness. Whilst of HEALTHY foods has declined amidst the the Policy creates a framework for planning, changing demand and accessibility of organizing, and clarifying roles and food, increasing convenience of junk' and responsibilities to ensure efficiency and ready-made' food, poor EATING habits, and commitment to change, it is the motivation, prevalence of a more sedentary lifestyle. input and commitment of each and every Interventions targeted at HEALTHY nutrition one of us that determines whether change need to occur early in childhood and takes place. adolescence to prevent or reverse the adverse health effects of overweight and poor EATING To accommodate the new and ongoing habits.

5 Therefore, knowing and understanding demands of the various initiatives required that proper nutrition and physical activity by this policy, we must all be prepared have a significant impact on one's ability to to be dynamic and flexible. We will learn is crucial for students, bringing with it actively support the College and SCHOOL the realisation that learning, attainment and Administration in their readiness for its health are intrinsically linked. implementation. We are therefore committed to continue We will continue to collaborate with the addressing the health of our students Ministry for Energy and Health and with through a WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH to our other stakeholders, both internal a HEALTHY Lifestyle: HEALTHY EATING and and external, to implement an effective Physical Activity Policy.

6 The Policy builds strategy that creates a SCHOOL environment on the experience gained through the conducive to educate our children and implementation of the HEALTHY EATING young people in the importance of HEALTHY Lifestyle Plan. EATING and physical activity as part of a HEALTHY life style. Our schools provide an especially critical environment for encouraging HEALTHY I take this opportunity to commend and behaviours. In many cases, life-long thank all of you who have collaborated habits and behaviours are formed during to the development of this Policy and the primary and middle SCHOOL years. Schools, College Principals, Heads of SCHOOL and the therefore, offer an opportunity to engage SCHOOL communities together with the many students in HEALTHY EATING and regular stakeholders for the commitment which you physical activity and to reinforce important will demonstrate to successfully implement health messages.

7 Schools also provide a the strategy for the benefit of our students, bridge to stimulate parental involvement their family and society. in shaping children's habits and attitudes about HEALTHY lifestyle choices. It is with Evarist Bartolo | Minister the above in mind that this Policy places 3. 4. RESPECT FOR ALL FRAMEWORK Version 1: 02/15. Message by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Maltese schoolchildren and It is a known fact that children who are adolescents has been increasing over recent obese or overweight are more at risk of years, as it has in other southern European being obese as adults and of developing countries.

8 Evidence shows that environments a range of related health problems. It is with barriers of access to HEALTHY foods increasingly important, therefore, that we and fewer occasions to engage in physical take action to seek to improve the health and activity are associated with higher rates of well-being of children. A HEALTHY , balanced obesity. diet and regular physical activity make an important contribution to children's growth The dietary and physical activity behaviours and development, to their educational of children and adolescents are influenced by performance and attainment and to their many sectors of society, including families, long-term health and well-being.

9 Communities, schools, child care settings, health-care providers, governmental The new document is in line with entities, the media, and the food, beverage recommendations from recently developed and entertainment industry. Each of these health documents including the Non sectors has an important, independent role Communicable Disease Strategy (2010), the to play in improving the dietary and physical National Cancer Plan (2011), the National activity behaviours of children. Schools play HEALTHY Weight for Life Strategy (2012), the a particularly critical role by establishing Food and Nutrition Policy and Action Plan a safe and supportive environment for Malta (2014) as well as the NAO Report with policies and practices that support on Physical Education and Sports (2010).

10 HEALTHY behaviours. Schools also provide opportunities for children to learn about and The Secretariat for Health has collaborated practice HEALTHY EATING and physical activity with the Ministry for Education and behaviours by developing the necessary Employment, as in previous years, in the skills required. This WHOLE of government preparation of this policy which is based and WHOLE of society APPROACH is a necessity on evidence and good practices. We are for us to be able to tackle this ever growing committed that over the coming scholastic problem of overweight and obesity which is years, we will continue to give our input affecting the WHOLE of our population at all towards its successful implementation, ages.