Policy information
Healthy Eating for Students
- Published on: 6 November 2019
- Last updated on: 3 April 2025
The subjects Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Physical Education (PE) at primary level, together with Home Economics at second level, cover the areas of healthy eating and the food pyramid, healthy lifestyle, physical health, body care, exercise, relaxation and diet. Schools devise healthy lunch policies as part of SPHE.
The majority of schools currently participating in the School Completion Programme operate breakfast clubs or other meal provision, in accordance with the nutritional guidelines issued by the Department of Social Protection.
The Food Dudes programme, which encourages a healthy eating culture within schools, is being rolled out on a national basis to all primary schools over a 5 year period.
