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Post by housesparrow on Jul 10, 2009 9:20:26 GMT
More than half of primary school children and almost two-thirds of pupils in secondaries are shunning canteen food after a campaign spearheaded by Oliver, the television chef.
It means the Government is one million short of its own target to improve take-up by this year, despite a small rise in the last 12 months.
The sale of high-fat and sugary food was banned from canteens and vending machines following the disclosure. The Government has pledged £627 million between 2005 and 2011 to improve school kitchens, train staff and help pay for ingredients.
But figures from the Government's School Food Trust show that just 43.9 per cent of under-11s and 36 per cent of secondary school pupils are eating canteen meals.
This is up slightly from 43.8 per cent and 35.5 per cent in 2007/08.
A spokeswoman insisted there had not been a majority of pupils eating school meals since 1984.
Prue Leith, chairman of the School Food Trust, said: "Real progress is being made the length and breadth of England. I am heartened that take-up has increased slightly in primary schools following the introduction of new nutrient-based standards and am convinced we are winning the battle for the hearts, minds and tastebuds of children and parents."
Strict new nutritional guidelines were made compulsory in primary schools last year, and the same will be introduced in secondaries this September.
A Government target was to ensure more than half of pupils were eating school dinners this year.
David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said: "Barely a third of secondary school pupils are eating school meals. There are a number of reasons why the Government has missed its target - including the rushed introduction of new food standards before the groundwork had been done to ensure children will eat the new healthier option."
Research by London Metropolitan University last year found that large numbers of children were still stocking up on calorie-laden, sugary foods from local shops.
It found that at one inner city secondary school, pupils were buying unhealthy food more than twice a day on average.
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Post by jean on Jul 10, 2009 10:45:46 GMT
Giving in isn't the answer, is it?
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Post by housesparrow on Jul 10, 2009 13:07:09 GMT
Giving in isn't the answer, is it? Absolutely right. The ritual forcing down of overcooked cabbage, beef gristle and lumpy semolina pudding should be integrated into the school curriculum; one of those character building experiences like French conversation and having to wear gym knickers. |
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Post by everso on Jul 10, 2009 17:15:14 GMT
When I went to primary school the food was so dreadful I insisted on coming home to dinner. My mum worked so my auntie used to feed me. When I went up to senior school I refused to have school dinners and took a packed lunch.
Why don't they stop providing school dinners and get pupils to bring a packed lunch? It's then up to the parents to provide a decent meal for their kids. Children are the parents' responsibility first and foremost.
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Post by housesparrow on Jul 10, 2009 18:24:15 GMT
My secondary school got so big that we had to take a packed lunch once a week; much better than school dinners! But no-one brought sandwiches other than on that day - it would have marked us out as wimps or weirdos. School lunch was part of the humiliation we needed to prepare for life.
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Post by everso on Jul 10, 2009 20:29:55 GMT
My secondary school got so big that we had to take a packed lunch once a week; much better than school dinners! But no-one brought sandwiches other than on that day - it would have marked us out as wimps or weirdos. School lunch was part of the humiliation we needed to prepare for life. We had quite a few packed lunch kids. We were all skinny and very picky eaters. I've fattened up nicely now though  |
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Post by Patrick on Jul 11, 2009 2:15:37 GMT
I seem to recall that for a long time You simply didn't have the choice! It was school dinners or nothing!. It was only when I was a couple of years off leaving Primary that our Head master gave in and let us have packed lunches. Even at a fogeyish 40 I find it pretty repellent that kids demand junk as practically a human right. It's about time someone put their foot down! ;D
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Post by jean on Jul 11, 2009 9:41:19 GMT
I find it pretty repellent that kids demand junk as practically a human right. The pity is that they were ever allowed it. Next time you go to France or Spain, have a look at their school menus. In France they're so proud of them they sometimes pin them up on the noticeboard outside. It's gourmet stuff, with nutritional values precisely calculated. A friend who lives in Spain always notes the menus of the school where she teaches and uses them to make sure she is eating properly! |
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Post by riotgrrl on Jul 11, 2009 9:41:53 GMT
I used to spend my dinner money on Embassy Regal, so I have little experience of the ways of school lunches.
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Post by everso on Jul 11, 2009 14:32:35 GMT
I used to spend my dinner money on Embassy Regal, so I have little experience of the ways of school lunches. I used to smoke Embassy Regal! And Kensitas, John Player (Black), Cadets, Benson and Hedges and Silk Cut. |
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Post by Patrick on Jul 11, 2009 15:41:48 GMT
Started regularly on Raffles 100's. They were on special offer 'cos they were just launched at £1.19 or something - When they went up to £1.25 I swapped to Lambert and Butler 100's which first came out at £1.23. Stayed with L&B from then on (1983/4+) Graduating to the normal King Size eventually , then the lights before finally giving up. I gave up for a while in the early 90's when Silk Cut brought out their different flavours - Purple, Light purple, blue, mustard, beige and white. It was a wacky experiment at lower and lower tar cigarettes. I don't think they mke the mustard or the beige ones now. They were £1.58 - £1.98 over the two and a half years I worked there. The increase in VAT (just remember that next time you hear that this recession is bad!) Did the greatest damage price-hike wise. What an amazing swerve off topic! ;D Isn't it astonishing though - that in Europe they feed their childrne better - give them arguably (and statistically) - better sex education, and (in the main) teach them to respect alcohol more! Tax wise though I imagine (perhaps Alanseago can tell us if he passes this thread) people pay for it - yet are probably happy to do so to get the results! Yet we look increasingly to America for our legislative ideas!!!  |
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Post by everso on Jul 11, 2009 17:50:42 GMT
Isn't it astonishing though - that in Europe they feed their childrne better - give them arguably (and statistically) - better sex education, and (in the main) teach them to respect alcohol more! Tax wise though I imagine (perhaps Alanseago can tell us if he passes this thread) people pay for it - yet are probably happy to do so to get the results!
Funny how you say "Europe", as if the UK wasn't part of Europe. That's just how I feel. We aren't part of Europe, we are us!
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Post by Patrick on Jul 11, 2009 22:35:07 GMT
Isn't it astonishing though - that in Europe they feed their childrne better - give them arguably (and statistically) - better sex education, and (in the main) teach them to respect alcohol more! Tax wise though I imagine (perhaps Alanseago can tell us if he passes this thread) people pay for it - yet are probably happy to do so to get the results!Funny how you say "Europe", as if the UK wasn't part of Europe. That's just how I feel. We aren't part of Europe, we are us! I'm just old fashioned. Too many years spent staring at Geography books where that large land mass off to our East had "Europe" stamped all across it. Good point. BUT Why not look to our near cousins for ideas rather than that lot half way round the world who didn't like our tea and still are totally incapable of making a decent cup of it!  |
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Post by everso on Jul 12, 2009 9:04:08 GMT
Isn't it astonishing though - that in Europe they feed their childrne better - give them arguably (and statistically) - better sex education, and (in the main) teach them to respect alcohol more! Tax wise though I imagine (perhaps Alanseago can tell us if he passes this thread) people pay for it - yet are probably happy to do so to get the results!Funny how you say "Europe", as if the UK wasn't part of Europe. That's just how I feel. We aren't part of Europe, we are us! I'm just old fashioned. Too many years spent staring at Geography books where that large land mass off to our East had "Europe" stamped all across it. Good point. BUT Why not look to our near cousins for ideas rather than that lot half way round the world who didn't like our tea and still are totally incapable of making a decent cup of it! Very true. Their tea is diabolical. |
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