Ice serving of a great school meal
Children at Wootton Wawen Primary School are being served up a special treat this week.
A new school menu has been introduced to all primary schools in the county that use Warwickshire County Council to supply their meals.
And the healthy ‘winter warmers’ menu is being backed by stars from the Cassidy Coventry Blaze ice hockey team.
Players are visiting the school on Wednesday to serve lunch and to talk to the children about the benefit of eating healthily.
Healthier meals were introduced across the county ahead of new Government targets earlier this year and the new winter menu, launched this week, introduces meals such as Pork, Apple and Sweetcorn Casserole, Meaty Pasta Bake, and Vegetable Goulash, while favourites such as ‘real’ Chicken Nuggets, Sausages and Bacon with gravy and Double Cod Fish Fingers remain on the menu.
Helen White, Senior Midday Supervisor explained the work that has been going on at Wootton Wawen to make lunchtimes even more enjoyable. This includes ensuring that the children eat in a pleasant environment with ready-laid tables, nice crockery, and calming background music. “We have seen uptake of school meals increase by 50 per cent this term. The children are really enjoying the new menu, and the more sophisticated environment. Some are even playing their part by volunteering to be waitresses during the lunch-hour. We’ve bought them uniforms and they look great!”
Stars from the Blaze, who are currently second in the Elite League, the top league in the country, will be serving the menu. Canadians Barrie Moore, last year’s top scorer in the league, and Danny Stewart will be on hand to help out at the servery.
Shona Walton, Principal Inspector, Warwickshire County Council, said: “The school lunches of today are healthy, tasty and are great for children to eat, and we’re really pleased that players from the Blaze are coming along to help show them that mealtimes can be fun too.”
Andy Buxton, Chairman of Cassidy Coventry Blaze, said: “This is the first of a number of visits to dining halls around Warwickshire that we are taking part in. All sportsmen know the benefit of eating healthily and we are pleased to be involved in an initiative that helps children understand the value of a good diet and a warm meal.”