10 tips for improving your school food offering
Who better to give us great ideas for raising the (salad) bar when it comes to school food than our 2023 winners? They have learnt first hand what works and what doesn’t, as they’re enjoying great take-up of school dinners and impressive feedback from the kids!
GO GREEN FROM THE OFF
“Teach kids about sustainability as early as you can, rather than trying to fix habits or behaviours in secondary school. Starting to educate them about sustainability from those early years is going to reap many more benefits for the future. The kids go home and get the parents involved too, which is how change happens.”
Robin Anthony, Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School, Sustainability Star Award
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE YOUNG KIDS!
“We use knives and graters from the very first session with our nursery children, because they’re doing it in a safe environment and we know they’ll be absolutely fine. You can see some parents looking scared and want to step in and do the cooking for the kids. But we have to say, ‘Mum, he’s OK. He can do it!’ Look, you’re not gonna go through life without cutting yourself, and kids are super resilient. It’s so important to let them have fun with food, get creative and find the joy in cooking from a young age.”
Kirsty Pacitti, Prestonfield Nursery, Early Years Award
VARIETY IS KEY
“New dishes excite the kids and make them want to try it, so we’re always introducing new things. For us, it’s been about working with our catering company to use local produce to make dishes that taste delicious. We also ask the children their likes and dislikes, so we can create a menu that’s varied and attractive to them.”
Helena Honeybone, Town Field Primary School, Leader Food Hero Award
SUPPLY FOOD FOR CLASS
“By providing what kids need for our food tech classes, we take the stress and hassle away from the parents and the students. There’s none of that having to go to the supermarket late at night, because they’ve just remembered they have food tech the next day. They’re also more likely to try the food, too.”
Jackie Dean, Carshalton Boys Sports College, Food Educator Of The Year
ASK THE KIDS!
“Find out what the kids do and don’t like, and listen to them. And keep making the meals for the kids, think about what they want. I’d been a restaurant chef for nearly 14 years, so I bring what we’d do there into the school kitchen – the organisation, following trends and making delicious food.”
Chef Steve Banham, Silver Springs Primary Academy, The One Show’s Rising Star Award
HEAD TEACHER TIP
“Be ambitious. Ask yourself, what can you achieve? Set your sights high, don’t limit yourself, and empower people to do their best.”
Deborah Mason, head teacher at Silver Springs Primary Academy
JUST DO IT!
“Make the leap of faith and change. Challenge people’s misconceptions and make lunchtime an event. School meals are not just about the food, they’re also [about] social interactions and skills. It’s one of the few times in the school day children are allowed to be children, and the right mix of food and environment brings out the best in them.”
Head chef James Sommerville, Wyre Forest School, The Sun’s Catering Team Champions
MAKE IT FUN
“We have really good relationships with the students – we’re firm, but they know we’ll make the lessons enjoyable, and it’s going to be a lesson where they’ll be able to get really stuck in.”
Jackie Dean, Carshalton Boys Sports College, Food Educator Of The Year
LET THEM TRY
“I’ll always let them try a little bit of a new dish, so they know what they’re eating. I feel like the menu is an opportunity to educate kids. I’ve got them eating couscous when a couple of years ago they’d never even heard of it.”
Chef Steve Banham, Silver Springs Primary Academy, The One Show’s Rising Star Award
AND WHEN CAMPAIGNING…
“When you’re a young person wanting to be heard, don’t be loud. Get angry, get passionate, sure, but don’t raise your voice. The minute you do that, you’ve lost the argument. I learnt that from being an outspoken kid at school! You always have the upper hand as long as you are calm. Look them in the eye and say your point calmly, make them uncomfortable, make them squirm… But don’t be loud, because that’s when people lose interest in what you’re saying.”
Saffron Stedall, Portsmouth, Youth Activist Of The Year
USEFUL CONNECTIONS
If you need more help, then we have some helpful resources for you…
ALL-ROUND SUPPORT
Our Ministry Of Food team offers lots of support and is a mine of information.
FOOD EDUCATION IN SCHOOL
We’ve also developed a food tech course for Key Stage 3, called the Schools Programme. Sign up here.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
These are fantastic resources to help you improve your food offering:
- School Food Matters offers fully funded food education programmes to schools
- The School Food Plan supports head teachers to improve food in their schools
- Food For Life helps schools to embed a whole-school approach to food
- Food Teachers Centre is a platform to exchange best practice, give advice and support to less experienced secondary school teachers
GREEN CREDENTIALS
Here are some great organisations that can help you with sustainability advice:
- Get kids excited about gardening with the Skinny Jean Gardener
- Take action on climate change with Eco-Schools
- The Soil Association is a great resource for environmental issues
- Our 2023 winners Prospect House Primary School has a Green Schools Network across Manchester – inspiring!