The whole subject of healthy eating and school meals has been in the media spotlight a great deal over the last few years. It started with Jamie Oliver and his programmes on Channel 4 and has been continued with various announcements about new Government initiatives.

We asked some of our headteachers and Councillors what they thought about the food served in their schools and why they would recommend a school lunch.

Denise Wells, Headteacher of Field House Infants School in Ilkeston told us "Lunchtime is a very important part of the whole school day but it isn't just about the food they eat. Children also learn how to behave in a dining area, how to interact with their friends and try foods they might not have at home. A healthy meal is really important as it sets a child up for afternoon and I would urge all parents to consider this as the best option for their child".

Denis Hanbury, Headteacher of Ripley Junior School, added "I regularly eat in the dining hall and the children love the meals on the menu and the opportunity to spend time with their friends. Our salad bar, bought with the ‘Jamie Oliver' money is a particular success. The meals are fantastic value for money and give the children lots of energy ready for the afternoon lessons"

Councillor Alan Charles said "I am a vegetarian so it isn't always easy choosing places to eat that have enough options. The school lunchtime menus always have a vegetarian option and dishes vary from baked omelette to vegetarian hot pot. All the meals are healthy and nutritious and I really enjoy it when I visit a local school around lunchtime. We are very proud of the school meals service we have in Derbyshire. The meals have never been healthier and we do all we can to encourage children to eat the right foods. This website provides you with lots of information to make sure you make the right choice about a meal at lunchtime and has fun games that you can play with your child on an evening in addition to the work we are doing in schools."

Is your child entitled to free school meals?  You can find out more about free school meals here.