Why is it important to post the current week’s menu where it can be read by staff and families?

The Healthy Food for Life resources are for the entire population over the age of five and they define the Irish Government recommendations on healthy eating and a balanced diet.  They provide a consistent and evidence-based approach for healthy eating advice.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

• Food Pyramid
• Food Shelf Fact Sheets
• Daily Meal Plans
• Supporting Infographics
• Top Tips and Myth Busters
• 101+ Square Meals
• 3 Week Meal Plan
• Nutritional Standards for School Meals
• Which consideration for menu should apply when planning foods for children?
• What are five factors to consider when planning meals for children?
• Why is it important to include ethnic foods in children's menus?
• What are some strategies to use in getting children to try new foods?

The Healthy Food for Life resources are for the entire population over the age of five and they define the Irish Government recommendations on healthy eating and a balanced diet.  They provide a consistent and evidence-based approach for healthy eating advice.

The Healthy Food for Life guidelines and resources provide practical support for individuals and families to make healthier food choices and to ultimately improve their health and wellbeing.  They include a leaflet, infographic of the food pyramid, sample daily meal plans, guidelines on portion sizes and fact sheets.

 The key messages from Healthy Food for Life are:

• Eat more vegetables, salad and fruit - Up to seven servings a day
• Limit intake of high fat, sugar, salt (HFSS) food and drinks 
• Size matters: Use the food pyramid as a guide for serving sizes
• Increase your physical activity levels
• Small changes can make a big difference. Start TODAY!

The Healthy Food for Life resources can also be ordered from healthpromotion.ie

Find more information on healthy eating for families, how to eat well and talking to your child about weight

The Nutrition standards for food and beverage provision for staff and visitors in health care settings have been developed by HSE and safefood to provide practical support and guidance for food and beverage providers employed or contracted to the health services to provide ensure that their services are in line with the Department of Health Healthy Food for Life guidelines.  Along with the HSE Calorie Posting Policy and HSE Vending Policy, these standards will support staff and visitors to make healthier food choices when purchasing food and beverages in health service facilities.

In the context of mobilising the public sector to improve diet and ultimately health and wellbeing across the population as a whole, these standards complement the Nutritional Standards for School Meals. 

Food Pyramid
	Simple Version Irish English	The basic version of the Food Pyramid A3 poster published by the Department of Health in December 2016
	Consumer Version Irish English	The consumer version of the Food Pyramid A3 poster published by the Department of Health in December 2016
	Professional Version Irish English	The professional version of the Food Pyramid A3 poster published by the Department of Health in December 2016
	Information Leaflet Irish English	A 7-page information leaflet providing advice on how to improve eating habits to help towards leading a healthier lifestyle.  The leaflet supports the information provided in the Food Pyramid
	Food Pyramid Q&A Irish English	A 4-page Questions & Answers document providing information as to why the Department of Health has published a new Food Pyramid
	Food Pyramid Rationale Paper Irish English	An 8-page rationale paper to help inform Dietitians, Health Professionals, Teachers and Health Correspondents about changes to revised Healthy Eating Guidelines and Food Pyramid

Food Shelf Fact Sheets
	Foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt Irish English	Facts about items contained on the top shelf of the Food Pyramid
	Fats, spreads and oils Irish English	Facts about items contained on the second shelf of the Food Pyramid
	Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts Irish English	Facts about items contained on the third shelf of the Food Pyramid
	Milk, yogurt and cheese Irish English	Facts about items contained on the fourth shelf of the Food Pyramid
	Wholemeal cereals and bread, potatoes, pasta and rice Irish English	Facts about items contained on the fifth shelf of the Food Pyramid
	Vegetables, salad and fruit Irish English	Facts about items contained on the sixth shelf of the Food Pyramid

Daily Meal Plans
	Jakub, Aged 5 Irish English	Jakub, an active boy aged 5, loves being outdoors playing with his friends.  Jakub needs 3 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf
	Niamh, Aged 10 Irish English	Niamh is a very active 10 year old, plays GAA and loves to dance.  Niamh needs 4 servings from the Wholemeal cereals, and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf.  As a child between 9 and 18 years, she needs 5 servings from the Milk, yogurt and cheese shelf
	Matthew, Aged 21 Irish English	Matthew, a 21 year old student living away from home.  Matthew needs 7 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf
	Siobhán, Aged 30 Irish English	Siobhán, aged 30, is a stay at home mum who is breastfeeding her 6 month old baby.  Since it's possible she could become pregnant, she is taking a folic acid supplement.  Siobhán needs 5 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf
	Michael, Aged 52 Irish English	Michael is a 52 year old office worker who is overweight.  He needs 4 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf.  When he starts losing weight he could have 5 servings and should aim to lose 1-2 lbs per week
	Tom, Aged 67 Irish English	Tom is 67 years and has recently retired.  He has started his retirement plan of walking 30 minutes, 5 days a week and he needs to lose the weight he has put on over the last 10 years.  He needs 4 servings from the Wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta and rice shelf
	Mary, Aged 70 Irish English	Mary, aged 70, enjoys looking after her 2 young grandchildren, so she is kept active.  Mary needs 5 servings from the Wholemeal Cereals and breads, potatoes, past and rice shelf

Supporting Infographics
	Milk, Yogurt, Cheese Irish English	How many servings do I need a day?
	Wholemeal Cereals and Breads, Potatoes, Pasta and Rice Irish English	How many servings do I need a day?
	Serving Size Guide Irish English	What is in a serving?
	Getting Active Irish English	How much activity do I need a day?
	Alcohol Irish English	What are the recommended alcohol limits? What is 1 standard drink?

Top Tips and Myth Busters
	Top Tips & Mythbusters Irish English	A 2-page document aimed at providing tips to assist with healthy eating and active living

101+ Square Meals
	101+ Square Meals A4 pdf	101+ Square Meals uses the Irish Food Pyramid and Healthy Eating Guidelines to help you plan healthier meals and get the best value for your money.

3 Week Meal Plan
	3 Week Meal Plan A4 pdf	The 3 week menu plan is a resource for pre-school to facilitate the implementation of healthy eating in this setting.

Nutritional Standards for School Meals
	Nutritional Standards for School Meals A4 pdf	These Nutrition Standards will be a valuable resource to support the ongoing work to enable and promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles in schools and will help more children to derive the maximum benefit from their education so that they can achieve their full potential.

Which consideration for menu should apply when planning foods for children?

What are five factors to consider when planning meals for children?

Why is it important to include ethnic foods in children's menus?

What are some strategies to use in getting children to try new foods?