Why School Lunches Matter

Since its inception, Lighthouse has always provided meals to all of its students. Why, when there is so much work to be done in delivering the curriculum in a meaningful and engaging way, did we take on the extra work of basically running a child-focused restaurant that feeds about 720 people per day?

The answer is simple: good nutrition is really, really important. It’s essential not only for healthy growth and development, but also for learning, focus, behaviour, and overall alertness. What children take into their bodies has a remarkable impact on their ability to thrive. We want nothing but the best for our students, and this is one of the key ways we care for them holistically, including nutritionally.

That commitment comes to life each day through our balanced snack and lunch offerings, carefully planned and prepared by an enthusiastic catering and wellness team. Every meal meets nutritional requirements and includes fresh fruits, vegetables, and our popular salad bar. Our menu, reviewed and approved by accredited dietitian and nutritionist Anya Benoit, supports Lighthouse’s mission to promote healthy eating. In addition to lunch, students receive nutritious snacks such as fresh fruit and healthy baked treats throughout the day, and they are also exposed to teaching on nutrition and opportunities to cultivate their own food through the FarmLab.

Why do we require that all students eat the snacks and lunch provided by the school?

• To promote high nutritional standards: Students benefit from a varied diet with a high component of vegetables and fresh/raw ingredients. 
• To ensure optimal readiness for learning: Research proves that nutrition impacts brain function.
• To reduce waste: Students may eat as much as they wish but are monitored to discourage waste. By preparing lunch at school and serving it fresh, we avoid a lot of packaging waste.
• To minimise social and cultural barriers: Food and mealtimes can either enforce or break down group-based identity. We want our students to unite as a school community, appreciating a wide range of food which is served to everyone equally. At the same time, we are responsive to food restrictions based on religious grounds or allergies/other medical conditions.
• To involve students in the production of their own food: To involve students in the production of their own food, our secondary agricultural curriculum and increased access to the FarmLab in primary, give students hands-on exposure to food production from ‘farm to fork’. This practical experience helps them become better eaters and more conscientious consumers, and we hope it will also inspire some to consider careers in agricultural production.
• To cultivate healthy eating habits and culture: Research shows that eating together around a table as a family, sharing the same food, helps children learn to make healthy food choices, communicate confidently, and develop good table manners. At Lighthouse, we foster a strong ‘family’ culture that supports these same habits, helping our students build lifelong healthy eating patterns. We believe food brings people together.

We understand that young children in particular can have a limited palate and show ‘pickiness.’ Again, research has shown that patient and repeated exposure to different food helps children out of this. Our meal programme aims to gently help them develop their taste and appreciation for a wider variety of food, for their own health and well-being. Similarly, teenagers tend to gravitate to fast-food options as they mature, and our meal offering aims to counter this tendency and support families as they navigate these years.

If you have any questions or would like to chat more about our food programme, please reach out to our Catering Lead and Nurse or phone us on 243 7100.