School Meals

Packed lunch advice:

The UK government produced packed lunch guidance to support the implementation of new school food standards for school lunches and ensure that all children benefit from eating quality food during the school day.

The guidelines are:

• One portion of fruit and one portion of vegetable or salad every day to be included in packed lunches

• Meat, fish or another source of non-dairy protein should be included every day. Non dairy sources of protein include lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, hummus, peanut butter and falafel
• An oily fish, such as salmon, should be included at least once every three weeks
• A starchy food, such as bread or pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, potatoes or other cereals, should be included every day
• A dairy food, such as semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard should be included every day
• Free, fresh drinking water should be available at all times
• Include only water, still or sparkling, fruit juice, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, yoghurt or milk drinks and smoothies
• Snacks such as crisps should not be included every day. Instead, include seeds, vegetables and fruit (with no added salt, sugar or fat). Savoury crackers or breadsticks served with fruit, vegetables or dairy food are also a good choice
• Confectionery such as chocolate bars and sweets should not be routinely included. Cakes and biscuits (approved list!) are allowed but these should be part of a balanced meal

Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies corned meat and sausages / chipolatas should be included only occasionally

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Lunchtime:

Your child can go home (this is very, very rarely the case) for lunch or stay at school with a choice between having a school dinner and bringing a packed lunch. From September, £2.60 will purchase a two course hot meal. The kitchen will make to order: a jacket potato, a salad or a school packed lunch. Pudding choice includes yoghurts, fruit, low fat/sugar biscuits and milk. A menu is sent home at time of publishing and added to the blog.

Lunches can be booked and paid for using Arbor.

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Water:

We encourage the drinking of water throughout the day. Please supply a clear, named, plastic container. These containers can be re-filled using filtered, chilled water at appropriate times. Squash, fruit juice or fizzy drink is not allowed in the classroom.