School catering
- Genetically Modified Food Policy
- Nut and Peanut Allergy Statement
- Why should I choose a school lunch for my child?
- News - What are we doing in the Central Contract
- Healthier Lunch Boxes
- Menu - School Meals
- National Nutritional Standards - Current Future
- Nutritional Analysis
- School catering
- School Milk
- Schools in the Central Contract
- Paying for school meals
- Eligibility for free school meals
- School Meals - background information
Why should I choose a school lunch for my child?
Nutritional Balance/Healthy Eating
School lunches are nutritionally balanced over the course of a week. The current menu complies with the current National Nutritional Standards and not only meets but exceeds the most recent food and nutrient based guidelines (Caroline Walker Trust) for school meals in most cases.
Choice and Variety
School lunches offer children the opportunity to try new foods. A variety is always available with a 3 weekly rotating menu allowing firm favourites to be consumed alongside new dishes. The current menu offers both a meat and vegetarian choice and the option of a jacket potato with a daily filling. A choice of dessert is also available. The majority of dishes are freshly prepared using fresh ingredients in each school kitchen.
Value for Money
A hot, balanced two course lunch priced at £1.75 for primary schools and £1.95 for secondary schools represents good value for money. Children have a choice of main meal items and desserts, and salad can also be selected in addition to all other choices. Freshly baked bread is also available on a daily basis.
Convenience
Providing your child with a nutritionally balanced hot meal can be a convenient way of ensuring your child gets a well balanced range of nutrients.
Social Aspects
Lunchtime forms an integral part of the school day where children learn to develop their social skills. Lunchtimes can be a social and relaxing experience, where children can taste and enjoy a variety of both familiar and new foods as well as for younger children skills such as using cutlery correctly.
Packed lunches
The contents of a school lunch box can vary enormously. Some schools have rules about what foods are suitable to bring to school as part of a lunch box. Research by the Food Standards Agency (2004) indicates that children who take a packed lunch to school are eating far too much fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar in one meal. It also found that three out of four lunchboxes (74%) also fail to meet Government nutritional standards that were set for school meals in 2001.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- School Catering Service
- Telephone
- 020 8760 5467
- allyson.lloyd@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- London Borough of Croydon
Taberner House
Croydon
CR9 1TP
- Contact name
- Initial Catering Services Ltd
- Telephone
- 020 8648 4533
- Fax
- 020 8648 0102
- croydon@initial-catering.co.uk
- Address
- Unit AO
Mill Green Business Park
Mill Green Road
Mitcham
CR4 4HT - Website
- www.coolmeals.co.uk
