Scoil Mhuire is named Healthy Heroes School

Scoil Mhuire GNS has been named Healthy Heroes School of the Month for March 2023, thanks to the students’ efforts in promoting healthy eating.

It is among hundreds of primary schools across the island of Ireland that are participating in the Healthy Heroes Lunch Club initiative from the Irish Bread Bakers Association (IBBA) and Bord Bia, which aims to educate children on nutrition, physical activity and how to improve their lunchtime habits.

Designed by teachers and behaviour change experts with the support of Dr Mary McCreery, one of Ireland’s foremost consultant nutritionists and dieticians, the Healthy Heroes Lunch Club gives children the opportunity to foster valuable leadership, teamwork and communication skills, all while learning to stay active and eat healthily.

Now in its ninth year, the successful programme allows both pupils and teachers to learn all about lunchtime nutrition, helping to boost children’s activity levels, all whilst having lots of fun in a non-competitive environment.

The programme involves a novel peer learning approach with sixth class students mentoring younger students on the importance of nutrition and being active.

This provides the younger children with important role models, while the older children have an opportunity to foster valuable leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.

Mary Callanan, Teacher at Scoil Mhuire GNS said: “Through the healthy Heroes lunch club the children have really become more aware of their eating habits and understand the nutritional benefits that certain foods provide now.

“For the older children, it was great to see the confidence they gained while helping younger students, encouraging them to be more mindful of what they eat.”

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