Healthy meals are a hit as school lunches soar
Children in Warwickshire have been getting stuck in to healthy school meals as the number of lunches served in primary schools has risen by more than 30 per cent.
The latest figures reflect the popularity of Warwickshire County Council’s healthy school meals campaign. Since the start of the academic year, the council’s catering arm, County Caterers, who operate in nearly every primary school in Warwickshire, have seen a rise from 10,600 meals a day in September to 14,000 in December.
Sandra Russell of Warwickshire’s County Caterers said: “A 30 per cent rise in three months is a great achievement and it proves that children want and enjoy healthy school meals. It is our job to continue to work in partnership with schools to find new and innovative ways to harness children’s enthusiasm for food. We had already introduced well-balanced meals ahead of government requirements at the start of term so I think we have probably benefited from a head start.”
Warwickshire County Council has based much of its work on a whole-school approach to healthy eating and places greater importance on the dining experience.
Some schools are starting the school day with a discussion about the menu and using wristbands to indicate their choice, other schools are investing Government money to introduce crockery, table mats and a ‘family service’ environment. And stars from the Coventry Blaze ice hockey team have been visiting schools to promote the healthy eating message. In addition to a special ‘Winter Warmers’ menu, County Caterers have also been introducing a host of food theme days including Well-Fed Wednesday, Farmhouse Breakfast Week and Chinese New Year.
More information is available from http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolmeals