HEALTH SCHOOL FOOD
What’s in
your child’s bowl?
Victoria Lambert looks at the thorny issue of school meals
and whether they meet our expectations
T
here’s no parent more likely and health of children and young both behavioural
to look for a warpath than people and improve the quality of food and academic,” she says.
one concerned that their in schools. But, says a spokesperson, “With this in mind, it is beneficial
offspring are being badly this only applies to “local authority for schools to have a policy on the
fed. Forget exam results, what really maintained primary, secondary, artificial food additive content of their
exercises opinion at the school gate special and boarding schools and Pupil food provision.”
is the debate over chips (good in Referral Units in England – not to Another study, from Roehampton
moderation or crack-cocaine to the nursery schools, private schools or to University Social Research Centre,
junk-food junkie?) and whether sixth form colleges.” found that while children are put
portion control encourages healthy So what of the private sector – off eating by noisy dining halls and
eating or fosters anorexia. School are we as up to date? Surprisingly, regimented lunch breaks, they are
meals are under scrutiny like according to the Independent School turned on by more choice. Left to their
never before, especially Commission (ISC), there are no rules own devices they are more sensible
in the private sector or regulations concerning meals than we think, as parents who find the
where parents are in schools outside the state time to join their offspring for school
charged as much
“Evidence
sector. None at all. lunch will find. “Learning to choose
as £5 a day for
is emerging of
It looks like your food is an important skill in itself;
compulsory parent pressure is we’d rather encourage that process than
home-cooked
the links between
all we have to fight dictate what they eat,” said one teacher.
school meals,
nutrition and
with. Of course, Leading the study, Ulla Gustafsson
compared with it’s a battle worth said children were more likely to eat
£1.50 in the performance, both fighting: what a healthy meal if they have time to
state sector.
behavioural and
children eat affects sit with their friends and enjoy their
The credit for mood, behaviour, food. “Most of the children were very
forcing the topic up
academic”
health, growth and knowledgeable about what constitutes
the national agenda ability to concentrate. healthy eating but saw this as someone
should go to Jamie Oliver; A lunchtime school meal else’s responsibility,” Gustafsson added.
his lobbying of government in 2006 should provide a growing child with Perhaps we’re all a little guilty of
led to £280 million over three years one third of their daily nutritional shifting responsibility. How many
being spent on upgrading kitchens intake. Crucially, the effects of getting of us give in to demands for a trip to
and teaching school cooks, pupils and it wrong can last for ever: children McDonalds, consoling ourselves that
parents about healthy eating. And the who are obese by the age of 12 are 85 school will ensure he’s eating ‘properly’? %
children attending one of the 25,300 per cent more likely to remain obese
state schools in the UK, eating one of into adult life, and those who are
3.25 million meals served daily, are obese in their early teens are twice as
Food for thought
beginning to see some benefit. For likely to die by the age of 50.
The European Union permits the use of over 1,500 additives,
or E-numbers, but the Food Standards Agency endorses
example, both primary and secondary Additives should also be
a study carried out by Southampton University that many
schools now have to publish the considered, according to Griselda of them are considered to be associated with behaviour
vitamin content of their meals. Halling of Independent Nutrition
and attention problems in all children, not just those with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For more
The School Food Trust, which was which produces food, drink and
E
information and an updated list contact these organisations:
G
N
established in September 2005 by the snack provision guidelines for day Hyperactive Children’s Support Group (HACSG)
H
C
X
K
Department for Education and Skills and boarding schools. “Increasingly,
The main UK proponent of a dietary approach to learning C
disorder.
www.hacsg.org.uk
T
O
has a remit to transform school food evidence is emerging of the links
:
S
Food Standards Agency
www.food.gov.uk
T
O
O
and food skills, promote the education between nutrition and performance,
H
P
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