This picture warms my heart!! So many of our children use their scooters or bikes to come to school. Well done to everyone, we might need a bigger space very soon! 

​Shane

Below are a few healthy lunch box ideas to inspire you year-round. 

• Dairy: the foods in this group are excellent sources of calcium, which is important for strong, healthy bones. Not many other foods in our diet contain as much calcium as dairy foods.

• Fruit: fruit provides vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and many phytonutrients (nutrients naturally present in plants), that help your body stay healthy.

• Grain foods: high fibre varieties of breads, rice, pasta, noodles, etc. Refined grain products (such as cakes or biscuits) can be high in added sugar, fat and sodium.

• Lean meats: Protein builds, maintains, and repairs the tissues in our body. Muscles and organs (such as your heart) are made of protein.

• Vegetables, legumes and beans: vegetables can make up a large part of your daily food intake and should be encouraged at every meal (including snack times). They provide vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and phytonutrients (nutrients naturally present in plants) to help your body stay healthy.

Here's to a healthy year, healthy lunch boxes and healthy children!!

​Shane

This week is active week in our school. We are encouraging all children to wear tracksuits to school this week. As well as this we encouraging children to walk to school, take a family cycle to the park and be as active as possible. Enjoy exercise, its great fun and so good for us.

​Shane

Our school tour with 4th and 5th class was a brilliant day in the Crystal Maze in Co Meath. I couldn't help but notice how happy the children were when they got back to nature, simply splashing and having fun in a little stream. This was definitely the highlight of the day for the children. It was both shallow and safe which is obviously the most important aspect. And the teachers didn't escape from receiving a splashing either! Great fun was had by all and often the greatest playgrounds are what nature provides.

Shane

5th class spent some time learning about the sugar content in foods and drinks. In doing so the children calculated grams and then converted into spoon fulls of sugar. It was a real fun project and the children learned a lot about the amount of sugar in every day foods and drinks.

​Shane

With the May week off school upon us and the sun to be shining I am sure there will be lots of picnics and trips to the park. And maybe even a trip to the beach for some!

During this time it gives us a great opportunity to explore healthy snacks for our children to ensure we fuel those high energy levels. Great snacks that are easy to pack include fruits, popcorn, yogurts, smoothies and cheese. And they are full of goodness.

Of course who doesn't like an ice cream on a sunny day, maybe just not every day! The week off can also allow us to explore the amazing nature in parks as the summer wildlife has arrived. See what new animals come to life at this beautiful time of the year. Have a great week off, stay hydrated, use sun cream and be active active active. 

Shane 

Here is a pretty well prepared lunch by someone who clearly has lots of time!! However not everyone has the time or patients to do the same. Remember its not how the lunch box looks, its the content that matters. The food in this lunch box is packed with vitamins and goodness to keep children energised and focused for the day. Whether its finely prepared and looks a million dollars or is placed all together in a box is irrelevant, all that matters is whats in the lunch box!!

​Shane

Eating 5 a day gives children vital nutrients that ensures they remain healthy and full of energy throughout the school day. The 5 a day can vary with lots of different types of fruit and veg available. Keep trying new types of fruit and veg as eating a variety will ensure a wide range of tastes and nutrients for your child.

​Shane

IRELAND’S ONE MILLIONTH parkrun happened last weekend
The free weekly 5-kilometre timed runs started in November 2012. There are now 75 parkruns and 13 junior parkruns across the country. Our local runs include Tymon park and Marlay park.

So far there have been almost 9,200 events in Ireland with an average of 104 runners at each run. Parkrun Ireland country manager Matt Shields said, “The milestone of one million parkruns is a great contribution to this vision and involves people of all ages and abilities".
​
The park runs are absolutely free once you register and have proved to be a fantastic initiative to encourage physical activity in Ireland. Walk, jog or run, that's entirely up to you! I love to take part myself and as the weather improves I aim to get there every Saturday. Maybe you will too.

Shane

Experts recommend that children should consume approximately 20g of sugar per day, that is about 5 tea spoons. The pictures illustrate the sugar content of simple every day foods like cereal, jam and yogurts. 

Shane