Crunch&Sip® is a set time in primary schools for students to ‘refuel’ on vegetables, salad and fruit and ‘rehydrate’ with water. Students who are not hungry and are well hydrated perform better in the classroom, show increased concentration, and are less likely to be irritable and disruptive. Many students are not eating enough vegetables and fruit or keeping sufficiently hydrated.
Each school can choose a suitable time and way to implement Crunch&Sip® that fits with the school’s timetable. It may suit the school for all classes to have Crunch&Sip® at the same time, or for individual teachers to decide when it best suits their class schedule. Teachers may have Crunch&Sip® time while students continue on with their work, or stop work and hold a Crunch&Sip® specific activity inside or outside of the classroom.
Watch the video to find out how schools have successfully implemented Crunch&Sip®.
Have a look at the Crunch&Sip® School Resource Pack for some guidance on how to implement Crunch&Sip® in your school.
What teachers are saying about Crunch&Sip:
“It’s well worth the time it takes to have Crunch&Sip®, to improve students’ concentration for the remainder of the morning.”
“Crunch&Sip® is having an impact on students’ learning and making a difference to children’s lunchboxes, which now often contain much healthier options.”
“Some classes were already having a fruit break. Having Crunch&Sip® gave consistency across the whole school.”
“We were concerned at the amount of processed foods students were consuming. To encourage healthier eating habits, the school introduced Crunch&Sip®. The outcomes have demonstrated the positive and life-changing influences that we, as teachers, can have upon our students.”
“Crunch&Sip® started fairly slowly, although as people started to see the benefits it increased.”
Health staff from Local Health Districts support schools in implementing Crunch&Sip®.
The new Crunch&Sip® School Resource Pack
The popular Crunch&Sip® School Resource Pack has been fully revised and updated and is available for download here.
The 2nd Edition of the Crunch&Sip® School Resource Pack contains:
- A revised Crunch&Sip® school implementation guide
- Food and nutrition focused classroom activities that fit within the NSW primary schools PDHPE curriculum and also meet other cross-curricula outcomes
- Short activity ideas based around healthy eating
- Background nutrition information and helpful resources for teachers
A hardcopy of the pack was sent to all Crunch&Sip® schools in early 2016.
For more Crunch&Sip® resources including Parent Brochures, School Case Studies, and Classroom Resources (posters and stickers) click here.
For more information contact:
Marc Davies, Program Manager, NSW Office of Preventive Health