A pupil from Heolddu Comprehensive has been given an award as the healthiest eater.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Catering Services have been monitoring the lunchtime meals of pupils at Heolddu Comprehensive in Bargoed as part of a cashless system that allows pupils to purchase food and drink via a card. Pupils can add cash to the card, or have it credited for the free school meals value, and use it at the canteen or in vending machines.

The system allows catering staff to monitor what items each pupil has purchased. From this they were able to ascertain who had eaten the healthiest foods.

Daniel Petrie a year 9 pupil was announced the winner. He commented, ‘I love all the healthy food here. I can’t stop eating it!’

Daniel was awarded a family activity voucher to be used at any leisure centre in the borough.

The cashless system is an investment by Catering Services to improve the catering facilities on offer in comprehensive schools. Four other cashless systems have been installed in Heolddu, Oakdale, Bedwas and Blackwood comprehensive schools and there are plans for more.

It is hoped that these investments will encourage pupils to purchase healthy foods at their school and discourage them from purchasing fatty or sweet foods outside school grounds.

Councillor Dai Hardacre, Cabinet Member for Education and Leisure, said, ‘the cashless system is a great way to encourage pupils to purchase healthy school cafeteria food. Daniel Petrie is a fine example of someone that has embraced the healthy options available. I hope that this can be replicated schools across the borough.’