Healthyfood

The government is setting new food-based standards for school lunches.

The key requirements are

More Fruit and Vegetables
No less than two servings per day per child; at least one should be vegetables or salad and at least one should be fruit.

More Oily Fish
Oily fish such as mackerel and salmon should be served at least once every three weeks.

Bread
Bread should be available at lunch every day.

Drinking Water
Free, fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Healthier Drinks
(NB Artificial sweeteners could be used only in yoghurt and milk drinks, or combinations containing yoghurt or milk.)
The only drinks served should be water, pure fruit juices, milk, yoghurt and milk drinks with less than 5% added sugar, smoothies, low calorie hot chocolate, coffee and tea.

This means sweetened fizzy drinks which have little nutritional value are no longer allowed.

These foods are now restricted or no longer allowed

No Confectionery
Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets should not be available for lunch.

No Savoury Snacks
Savoury snacks such as crisps should not be available for lunch.

No Salt; Condiments - Restricted
Salt should not be available at lunch. Condiments, such as ketchup and mayonnaise, should only be available in sachets.

Deep-Fried Foods – Restricted
Meals should not contain more than two deep-fried foods, such as chips and batter-coated products, in a single week.

Manufactured Meat Products – Restricted
These products, such as chicken nuggets, burgers and sausage rolls, may only be served occasionally, and only providing they meet standards for minimum meat content.

We know that meals made at school meet these new requirements, and that the children are enjoying eating them. Some time ago we sent out a leaflet giving parents advice about what sort of things could be put in a packed lunch which would complement these new standards. Click here to see this leaflet, it may give you some more ideas!

Follow this link to see an article on packed lunches on CBBC
CBBC news story

What are the school menu's like?
The menu has been carefully put together to ensure the new standards are met. The school meals are always posted on the school website, and on a board in school. Click here to see the menus for the rest of term.

The picture shows an extensive salad bar. Is that always available?

Yes, children can help themselves to salad to add to their school lunch, or have salad as an alternative vegetable.

Does my child have to have school lunches every day?
No. Children can combine packed lunch with school lunch. It helps if the school office knows if this is going to be a set routine. For changes to meal patterns, just inform the office and send in the required monies in advance.

How much do school lunches cost?

They cost £1.85 per day. This includes a full meal, with bread and salad and a choice of three sweets. Fresh fruit is always an option. We don't think a healthy packed lunch could be produced for this price and feel school meals provide good value for money.

What do you sell at the school snack shop?
We sell fresh and dried fruit and cheese. All items are 10p.

Can I come and sample a school lunch with my child?
Yes, we would be happy to see you. We would ask that you advise the office when you wish to come. Adult meals are £2.60.

New salad bar introduced to encourage pupils to help themselves.

The Fruity Tooties
At Spaldwick School we have a special team of pupils who make up our healthy eating team - The Fruity Tooties. They organise competitions and make sure we all try and eat healthily.

The Kestrels

The Kingfishers

The Puffins

The Swifts

The Eagles

The Blackbirds

The Fruity Tooties are growing potatoes for a competition, we have seen shoots already!

New nutritional standards for school lunches and other school food and drink

On 19 May 2006, the Secretary of State announced a suite of new nutritional standards for school lunches, as well as food and drink served at other times of the day.

These standards combine the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP) and the SFT (School Food Trust).

The SFT is an independent organisation that provides support to head teachers, governors, school cooks, Local Authorities and catering providers in implementing the new standards. They will also work closely with healthy schools coordinators.

Spaldwick supports healthy eating by

ü being committed to The Every Child Matters five outcomes for our children