Big picture stuff about kids diet as background to improving our food culture at school

1. School dinners
Jackie Schneider

2. History of school dinners
Concern over poor physical condition of the
recruits during the Boer War
This led to Royal Commission on Physical
Deterioration.
Education Act 1906 gave LEAs power to
provide free school meals.

3. 1944 Butler Act
All schools to provide milk and school meals
the price of the meal was not allowed to
exceed cost of ingredients
introduced nutritional standards
established that the lunch had to be suitable
as the main meal of the day

5. 1980 Education Act
Schools no longer HAD to provide meals -
except FSM
got rid of nutritional standards
changed entitilement to free school meals

6. Terrible deterioration in
standards and uptake

7. Jamie Oliver – “ feed me better”
campaign.

10. Government established
School Food Trust.
Introduction of mandatory
standards

11. Out Goes .....
crisps
confectionery
sweetened drinks
mechanically
recovered meat

12. In comes.....
limits on fried food every school dinner
should contain
fish every 3 weeks minimum of 2
portions of fruit and
fresh fruit,vegetables veg
& salads on a daily
basis

13. New improved lunches!

14. But why does any of
this matter?

15. Children’s current eating
habits
92% of kids eat too much saturated fat
86% too much sugar
96% do not eat 5 portions of fruit and veg
20% eat no fruit and veg

16. By 2050 it is predicted that 55% of
boys and 70% of girls could be
overweight or obese

17. What would a perfect
lunch time at St Teresa’s
look like?
for the kids?
for the staff?
for the parents?
for YOU!

18. Food isn’t just fuel!
cultural implications
sharing
looking after each other
reinforcing relationships
teaching time to educate kids about
manners, nutrition, good conversation etc

19. What are some of the
barriers?

20. There are different
models
Japan - eat in class
Finland - free meals, no choice
Private schools - staff and pupils eat
together in dining room
family style service
eating during curriculum time

21. What you do is incredibly important.
It may feel thankless at times but
looking after our most precious
resource, (ie our kids) and nuturing
them so they can grow strong and
healthy should be a top priority for
any society.
Thank you!