The whole subject of healthy eating and school meals has recently been in the media spotlight. It started with Jamie's School Dinners, a TV programme on Channel 4 and has been continued with various announcements about new Government initiatives.

We asked three headteachers what they thought about the meals in their schools and what they would say to parents about them.

Karen O'Donnell, Head Teacher of Athelstan Community Primary School in Sherburn-in-Elmet told us “Lunchtime is a very important part of the whole school day.  It is a time when children relax and play but that does not mean they stop learning.  They learn how to behave in a dining area, how to interact with their friends and experience food that they might not have tried at home.  A  nutritious meal is really important and I would urge all parents to consider this as the best option for their child.”

Di Robinson, Head Teacher of Richmond Church of England School agrees saying “I have no hesitation in recommending a school lunch to all parents.  They are excellent value for money, they are freshly prepared, nutritious and healthy and most importantly the children enjoy them.  We put a lot of effort into providing a link between what goes on in the kitchen with what happens in the classroom.  This website will be a great benefit as children will learn while they play online, as well as when they try new foods at lunchtime.

Mr P R Burdekin, Headteacher, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, Ripon said:" With the use of local produce, meat and fruit and vegetables we have noticed a vast improvement in the quality of school meals.  There is no substitute for fresh local produce and North Yorkshire’s School meal service should be applauded for the quality of the raw ingredients now available to school kitchens.  Our school has certainly noticed an improvement in the quality of the food being served and this is evidenced by the huge increase in numbers of pupils and staff who now take a school lunch.  Many children are now having a nutritionally balanced meal that not only does them good but is tasty too.  Our school meals have been revolutionised and more children are now benefiting.  Keep up the good work."

County Councillor John Watson, Executive Member for Education Services adds “Parents must realise that school meals have changed out of all recognition in recent years.  They are very different to when they were at school.  North Yorkshire County Council is spending a lot of time exploring the process of sourcing food locally to ensure the ingredients are fresh and healthy.  North Yorkshire has been at the forefront of promoting healthy school meals for nearly twenty years and other authorities can learn a great deal from us.  I firmly believe a school meal is a much better option than a packed lunch.

Is your child entitiled to a free school meal? 

You can find out more about free school meals by downloading our leaflet - 'Free School Meals - who can claim?'

Why not try cooking one of our delicious healthy meals at home?

Below is a recipe for a delicious school meal that you can easily cook at home.

Chicken with Borlotti Beans

6 Portions

1 large tsp Oil
240g Chicken Diced
Cayenne Pepper/Paprika (optional) - To taste
40g Bacon
40g Onions
225g Chopped Tomatoes Tinned
225g Beans (Borlotti/white kidney)
100ml Water
Marmite (or Chicken Oxo) - To taste
Lemon (juice) - To taste
Fresh Parsley - To garnish

1. Heat oil in a medium pan. Sprinkle the cayenne pepper over the diced chicken & fry with the bacon and onions until golden brown.
2. Add the stock cube to the water.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes, beans and stock and bring to the boil and simmer for about 10-15 mins to reduce.
4. Add lemon juice and marmite.
5. Season to taste.
6. Sprinkle with parsley to serve. 

You can find more recipes like this as www.mycookeryclub.co.uk