School meals rule! County pupils get set for week of celebration (From Stroud News and Journal)

School meals rule! County pupils get set for week of celebration

12:00pm Thursday 5th November 2009

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Pupils in Gloucestershire will be tucking in with a top rugby star and helping a chef cook up a storm next week as they shout about school dinners.

National School Meals Week runs from Monday, November 9th to 13th and Gloucestershire is joining in with the celebrations. During the week, there are a number of fun events planned to get across the importance and value of children having a healthy meal at lunchtime.

Currently, 28% of pupils in the county eat a school lunch – a figure that the County Health and Well-being Team (Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire) is keen to see increase. School meals meet the Government standards for 14 nutrients, and represent good value.

On Monday, we will be revealing the results of our online survey to find out which foods pupils like and dislike the most. More than 1000 children took part, and the information was used to develop the new winter menu that launched on Monday, November 2nd.

  We will reveal the favourite and least favourite meals for primary aged pupils in Gloucestershire, the top puddings and most popular fruits and vegetables. The results of the national vote will also be released on Monday.

  On Tuesday, it’s time to ‘Get Cooking’ as a chef visits Bussage Primary School, Stroud at 12pm, to demonstrate cooking skills to the pupils. The chef will show the children how their school meals are made with a tasting session to follow.

Pupils at Grange Primary School in Tuffley will get the chance to meet one of their Gloucester Rugby heroes, second row Alex Brown, and the Premiership club’s community manager, Gary Little, for lunch on Wednesday at 12pm.

Gary said: “Alex is one of our 'biggest' players, standing at 6ft 7ins, and weighing in at 18 stone. He is a player with a healthy, hearty appetite and I’m sure he’ll enjoy joining the children at Grange Primary for lunch.”

  Nationally on the same day, the ‘Get Active’ theme will see former World 110 metres hurdles champion, Colin Jackson CBE, help students to build up an appetite for lunch.

On Thursday, we will be revealing how Ribston Hall secondary school has stepped up its school meals service, and on Friday, primary school pupils will be making thank you cards for their school caterers. There will be templates for them to download, colour in and add their own special messages.

Kirsty Pritchard, Senior Team Lead for the Children’s Health and Wellbeing Team, said: “The idea is that the children can write in their thank you cards about their favourite dish. The cards can then go up on the dining room wall and there will be certificates available to download for the pupils who create the best cards. The cooks could even prepare their favourite meal!

Cllr Jackie Hall, Gloucestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “Providing tasty school meals that are well balanced and packed with goodness is crucial. I hope the new winter menu launched last week appeals to pupils and that the take-up of school meals will increase.”

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