School Food Strategy launches

The Strategy sets the agenda for school food for the next four years and is all-encompassing covering breakfast clubs, mid-morning breaks, dinners and cookery clubs. Its aim is to promote healthy schools by improving the quality of the food served to the children and young people, which will have a significant impact on the outcomes they achieve. With so many statistics on rising obesity levels in children and young people, the Strategy highlights the importance of nutrient based standards and will support schools across Northumberland to provide a health promoting environment, making it easier for individuals to make healthy and informed choices. Speaking at the event, Robin Casson, the council's director of Learning, Skills and Family Support, said: "The skills, qualities and attributes that we want young people to have are established through their learning experiences. One experience that's been neglected for too long is the school food experience which includes nutrition, planning and social interaction. "Research tells us that there should be clear links between school food, lunchtimes and the whole curriculum and that healthy children make happy children, who are ready to learn and be fully involved in the school experience." "The event, which was fully sponsored by the School Food Trust (established by the Department for Children, Schools and Families), also showcased schools that have worked hard to improve the school meal experience for children and young people." In addition, delegates were treated to a presentation by schoolchildren at Cambo First School on the garden they have planted at the school which provides vegetables for their school meals. The school has recently won the 'School of the Month' award from the School Food Trust, and received a cheque for £5,000 at the event. The Government's new standards for school food are now in force throughout the country. The standards mean that an average school lunch must meet requirements for energy and 13 key nutrients that children need. At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables or salad must be made available for all children at lunchtime, whilst sugary drinks, confectionary and crisps have gone completely.