Oneof the things that irritated me most about being a councillor and school governor, and a schools auditor in neighbouring boroughs was the school dinners. The menus were generally unappetising even on the menu sheets. I couldn't really understand the rationale behind them; I felt that there was a lot of junk on there, which seemed an expensive way to fill kids up. I think there was a thinking that if you gave children healthy food they wouldn't eat it. Obviously, we all know that healthy food is a turn off to most children and to a lot of adults. I also know it's more diffcult in secondary schools when pupils demand choice.
But some of the schools with which I am familiar had/have two thirds of children entitled to free meals. I have no idea how many came to school without breakfast, but teachers informed me it was a significant number.
However, there has to be an element of habit-forming. Many kids arrive at school unable to use cutlery or to sit up at table. Put food in front of a hungry child, and, eventually, it will eat. One school I visited had a rule that forbid playtime snacks unless they were fruit.
Next stop, persuading the caterers at Valhalla* that there veggie menu is not acceptable. Quorn twice and pasta bake/lasagne is not variety, not appetising, and definitely not what I want. Mind you, when I had a look the vegetable tempura looked very nice indeed. Yet I never used the restaurant at Nibelheim**.
* Our new office building
** Our old office building
In Dorset where I live, thanks to that lovely Mrs Thatcher and her pursuit of free markets and "choice", there is NO provision for school meals AT ALL.
The Scaryduck kids have to take in sandwiches or go hungry. The only provision is a sandwich delivery for kids who qualify for free meals. The school kitchens are now the nursery class, and are unlikely ever to be converted back.
Thanks for that, you old bitch.
Posted by: Scaryduck | Saturday, 12 February 2005 at 13:47