About the strategy
Jersey's Food and Nutrition Strategy aims to support healthy nutrition and reduce diet-related preventable disease.
Our Island has rising levels of life-threatening preventable diseases caused by diets low in nutrients and high in unhealthy processed food. These diseases include:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- several different types of cancers
The Food and Nutrition Strategy was approved by the Council of Ministers in May 2017 and sets out a number of priority actions. The strategy is based on research around what works to tackle increasing levels of diet-related diseases and is funded through the
Government Plan.
One of the strategy's key guiding principles is to focus on prevention through early intervention. Our work is therefore prioritising initiatives in early years settings and primary schools.
We also aim to address broader barriers to achieving a healthy diet including the affordability of healthy food.
A Food and Nutrition Strategy for Jersey 2017 to 2022
Food and and nutrition discussion groups: refreshing the strategy
In 2023 work commenced on a revised Food and Nutrition Strategy for Jersey where:
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stakeholders and members of the public have been consulted
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a mapping of the local food system was carried out
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an evidence review
and appraisal of available interventions was completed
Focus groups were also carried out with a variety of diverse groups in the community to better understand the challenges Islanders face when aspiring to eat healthily.
Food and nutrition discussion groups report
Programmes and services
The Food and Nutrition Strategy provides a number of programmes to support you and your family with healthy nutrition.
Family Food and Fitness
Family Food and Fitness is a free programme that can help you and your family around diet and exercise. It aims to support long-term behaviour changes with a combination of:
- cooking classes
- sports
- other fun activities
It's an 8 week programme led by registered dietitians and qualified physical activity specialists. It can be accessed by your whole family.
Family Food and Fitness
Food Dudes
Food Dudes is a behaviour change programme to help your child develop taste and liking for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The programme is carried out in schools and your child learns about healthy nutrition using:
- role modelling
- fun and educational rewards
- repetition
The programme has been adopted by hundreds of primary schools in Ireland, the UK and elsewhere where it achieved positive health-related outcomes for children taking part.
Contact us for more information on the programme.
Primary school meals partnership (Flourish)
Public Health and CYPES work with local charity
Caring Cooks to provide a daily lunch service in some primary schools as an alternative to lunch boxes. Meals provided are balanced, nutritious and dietitian-approved. They aim to support children with their:
- learning
- healthy growth
- positive health outcomes later in life
Talk to your child's school if these lunches are not currently offered. You can also contact us for more details about the programme.
Find more information on primary school meals in the sign up letter.
Primary school meals sign up letter in English
Primary school meals sign up letter in Portuguese
Primary school meals sign up letter in Romanian
Primary school meals sign up letter in Polish
Whole-school food policies
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that a whole school approach is adopted in each school for the early prevention of obesity and diet-related disease. This means having an approach that involves all parts of the school and stakeholders including:
- teachers
- parents
- children
- Public Health
Together we can commit and work to develop prevention initiatives. These can include guidance for parents or implementing a school's healthy snack policies.
Contact us for more information about the programme.
Healthy Start
Low-income families can struggle to eat the recommended level of fruits and vegetables because of financial barriers.
Healthy Start is a local programme providing vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables to low-income parents of young children. It aims to increase access to good nutrition for parents and their child during the crucial early stages of growth and development.
You're automatically entitled to this benefit if you receive Income Support.
For more information about this benefit, complete the Income Support query form.
The UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative is based on a global accreditation programme developed by UNICEF and the
World Health Organisation (WHO).
The programme supports breastfeeding and parent-infant relationships by working with public services to improve standards of care and best practice. It has been implemented in Jersey to train local professional working with young families to build on the good work of these services.
Contact Family Nursing and Home Care for more details about the programme.
Family Nursing and Home Care website
Eating disorders and healthy relationship with food
Jersey Eating Disorders Support (JEDS) is a local registered charity providing support for those affected by eating disorders and their families and friends.
JEDS website
You can also find support with promoting a healthy relationship with food for children on the Institute for the Psychology of Eating website.
Additional services and resources
There are a number of free or low-cost local services and resources to support you and your family in living a healthier lifestyle. They're designed to support families making simple choices to improve their health around:
- diet
- nutrition
- physical activity
Activities programmes on Jersey Sport website
Children activities on Move More website
Jersey Library
British Nutrition Foundation website
Change for life on the NHS website
Get healthy as a family on the NHS website
BDA online magazine