Gimme 5 School Meals Booklet

3
OLDER
DINERS
‘IF YOU EAT HEALTHILY
YOU CAN RUN FAST. IF
YOU EAT FATTY FOODS
IT’S NOT GOOD FOR
8
‘
YOUR HEALTH AND YOU
WILL JUST GET FAT.
Amy Sims, 12
MASSIVE
INVESTMENT
Secondary schools offer more
than 4,000 pupils a wider and
healthier choice of set menus
than ever before. Meals, kitchen
staff and equipment have also
benefited from investment.
This has all helped raise the
professionalism of catering staff
ensuring they are equipped
with the skills to provide the
best meals possible. All seven
catering managers meet monthly
to ensure success is shared.
Connections are also being
made between school catering
and food technology lessons.
● Improvements have seen
an increase in the uptake of
meals in many schools
● Dishes like pasta have now
become the most popular
choice in some schools
● Many canteens have
designated healthy eating areas
● Farm and supermarket
visits have been organised
for teachers and catering
managers so they can learn
more about ‘field to plate’
SNAG GROUPS
SNAG groups in secondary
schools are made up of
pupils, teachers, catering staff,
finance managers and parent
governors. They give everyone
a say and a chance to influence
what’s on the menu.
EVALUATION
A survey of secondary school
pupils last year found that the
majority rated school meals as
delicious or good. A further
survey is due to be carried out
this year.
Menu Development
Schools are making excellent
progress towards the new food
standards for school meals.
Catering managers work with our
dietitian to nutritionally analyse
their menus and compare these
with the nutritional standards set
by the Assembly. New menus have
been developed to ensure pupils
are offered a balanced ‘meal-ofthe-day’,
containing over a third of
their daily nutrient requirements.
Recipes are tested with pupils
during lunchtime tasting sessions
and our chef works with catering
teams to help launch new menus.
Value for Money
Current meal prices are:
Infants £1.80
Junior £1.90
Secondary (up to) £2.05
4
School
Menu
Low income families may qualify
for free school meals. Forms
are available at schools or
phone 01495 762200 for more
information.
School meal
examples
● Chicken and vegetable tikka
masala with rice or spicy
vegetable fajitas, herby diced
potatoes and salad.
Fruity crumble squares.
● Salmon and pineapple stir-fry
served with rice or cheese, onion
and potato pie with baked beans.
Carrot cake.
● Beef casserole, mashed potato
and green beans or macaroni
cheese with cauliflower and
broccoli and salad.
Crispy peach bake and custard.
Download a copy of the menus www.torfaen.gov.uk/schoolmeals
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