Try school dinners during school meals week

As part of National School Meals Week, which runs from Monday 3 to Friday 7 November, Plymouth City Council is calling on all parents to encourage their children to try a school lunch for a day.

Plymouth’s Education Catering Service is nationally recognised for the quality of the food served and was the first local authority caterer in the country to be awarded the Soil Association’s Gold Food for Life Catering mark in recognition of the local sourcing of seasonal ingredients, use of free range eggs, organic milk and ingredients.

For less than you would pay for a cup of coffee on the high street, a child can get a nourishing, tasty meal. Some of the meals on offer include, Chicken curry with rice and naan bread, Lasagne with garlic bread, Roast gammon and roast potatoes, a vegetarian option is also available every day and all these are served with a selection of seasonal vegetables. A fresh salad bar is also available daily along with a selection of jacket potatoes and fillings. Desserts include chocolate muffins, carrot cake, gingerbread and ice cream sundae.

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health will be visiting St Peter’s C of E Primary School on Thursday 06 November, helping to serve lunch and also having a meal with the children. Sue said: "I am really looking forward to trying a school meal for myself and finding out what type of food children are offered at lunchtimes. I am sure my own experience of school dinners is very different to how it is today. If a child eats a healthy balanced main meal at lunchtime they are better able to concentrate for the rest of the day. It is great that National School Meals Week is helping to raise the profile of school meals and how important it is for our children to eat well.

“Universal Infant Free School Meals for all pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 which was introduced from this September also makes a real difference for families, the health and well-being of their children and also the disposable household income being with £380 per child per year".

Jan Digweed is Head teacher of St Peter’s C of E Primary school, she said: “We are all delighted that Councillor Sue McDonald is coming to lunch on Thursday. The children are so excited that she will be serving lunches to them and then eating with them. Our children enjoy our school lunches very much and will be happy to show these off to Councillor McDonald when she comes.”

Visit Plymouth’s education catering service website to find out more about the menu’s they have on offer http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/schoolmeals

Find out more on National school meals week http://www.thegreatschoollunch.co.uk/