Healthier Families
Eating Well
A balanced diet is important for everyone but particularly supports healthy growth and development in children. It also helps when recovering from an illness or injury.
Encouraging your child to eat a wide variety of foods influences healthy food habits when they are older.
It is important to remember there are no good or bad foods. The overall balance of a diet is what counts and in the right proportions.
For more information and for more tips on supporting your families’ health, visit:
Mealtime & Snack Ideas
Find a range of healthy recipes here:
Sugar
Did you know, lots of children are having over 2 times more sugar than is recommended for them?
Making the healthier choices can be challenging for parents. Check out the information below to help support you in making those choices:
Salt
Did you know most people eat too much salt every day?
It is recommended that adults do not consume more than 6 grams of salt – this is less than one teaspoon!
For more information on salt intake and tips to reduce your families intake, visit: Reduce salt - Food facts - Healthier Families - NHS
Ideas for Staying Active
Did you know, children aged 5 to 18 need to be physically active for 60 minutes a day?
Children should also take part in a variety of exercise that helps develop movement skills, muscles and bones. Children should try to spread activity throughout the day to help reduce the time spent sitting or lying down.
Find more information, ideas and games here:
Free indoor activities for kids – Healthier Families - NHS
Mental Health Support
Meic For Young People & Children
Meic is a helpline for children and young people.
You can call or Whatsapp them on 080 880 23456.
They are open 8am to Midnight every day.
Children aged 11-19 can contact the school nursing team for confidential support and advice.
You can text them on 07312 263 262.
Texts will be replied to Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
The Mix Provides Essential Mental Health Support for young people aged 11 - 25.
Text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258 for support
Campaign Against Living Miserably.
CALM runs a suicide prevention helpline to support people in need. You can call if you are struggling yourself, have lost someone to suicide or if you are worried about someone.
The helpline is open from 5pm – Midnight every day. Call 0800 58 58 58.
Open to Anyone
The CALL Helpline offers emotional support and information on mental health. The CALL helpline can support anyone who needs support with their own mental health or who is concerned with the mental health of someone else.
You can call the helpline on 0800 132 737, 24 hours a day.
Open to Anyone.
The Samaritans offers a free helpline to support anyone who is struggling.
You can call them anytime on 116 123.
If you prefer, you can also email them at jo@samaritans.org (It can take a few days to receive a response)
Open to Anyone.