SCHOOL cooks in Northumberland are cooking up top nosh – and have been ahead of the game a year before new standards became law today.

Northumberland County Council has been driving up the quality of its school dinners to include more oily fish, more fruit and vegetables and reduce fat, sugar and salt.

The changes were introduced in Northumberland last year in response to a desire to rid school meals of its bad reputation for processed meals and chips.

The government has set new food-based standards for school lunches.

Duncan Johnson, in charge of School Meals for Northumberland County Council, said: “Before recent concerns about school dinners, we were already offering a wider choice of fresh foods and were reducing processed food.

“It was important to drive up standards, but this was something we were already doing. As well as continental dishes and new twists on British favourites, our dinners are appealing to children and offer a balanced meal.

“Every parent wants to know their children are eating a healthy meal to get them through the school day and keep their brains in gear. School meals are a much more balanced alternative to the chip shop or fatty, sugary snacks.

“Teachers have also praised the new menus. They say pupils are able to concentrate and perform much better following a balanced meal.”

Northumberland County Council uses CRISP - a computer programme to work out the nutritional content of meals and has also:

• Provided extra nutrition training for staff.
• Worked with suppliers to improve products.
• Introduced high quality oily fish and other new freshly prepared dishes.
• Increased portion sizes of the carbohydrate elements of the menu and introduced home baked bread onto menus.

Meals such as Beef Bourguignon with Cous-cous, Chicken Italienne with Penne Pasta and Spring Cabbage and Salmon Fillet in Wholemeal Crumb with Parsley Potatoes are now standard fare on first school menus.

Parents can browse school menus and tell catering staff what they think about Northumberland school meals at www.myschoollunch.co.uk/northumberland

Around 30,000 school meals are served every day in Northumberland.