The Government does have a nutrition policy for the Island?s public schools. It is comprehensive, easy to read document sent to principals of all public schools at the start of the year.

Its stated objectives are to: create a healthful school environment that supports and reinforces the health and physical education curricula;

permit only nutritious foods be sold on the school premises;

and, encourage parents to send only nutritionally acceptable foods in student lunches.

The document details the benefits of milk for Bermudian children and in a special section for principals, the Dunkley?s Dairy Milk Programme for schools is also detailed.

The Healthy Schools: Food and Nutrition in Schools document also itemises foods that should not be sold on school premises and suggests more appropriate options.

It stresses the importance of breakfast explaining the physiological effects of lack of food on the brain.

?When a child who has not eaten breakfast is placed under the heavy demands of mastering a complex subject, that child cannot function at optimum level because there is not enough glucose to feed the brain.?

The document has specific areas geared toward principals, teachers and parents and provides a wealth of practical information including lunch menu ideas and facts on foods marketed as healthy.

But do the public schools abide by the policy?

Government Healthy Schools Coordinator Marie Beach said: ?All Government primary, middle and senior schools are aware of the Nutrition Policy and understand that there are specific ways that healthy eating can be increased. However, not all schools enforce all of the guidelines.

?In many schools, teachers and principals routinely monitor lunches, while in others the checking is more sporadic. Many schools have such in-house policies, as no Lunchables, no fried food and no sweets.?

Although private schools and home schools are not bound by the policy, Ms Beach includes them in her visits and sends them the policy also.