Bracknell

Children at Bracknell Forest Borough Council's schools are tucking in to healthier school meals this week.

Back in June the Council agreed a new three year contract with school meals specialist Caterhouse Ltd for primary school meals.

And for secondary schools Eden Foodservice, formerly Initial Catering, had their existing contract extended until September 2007.

Caterhouse has put together new menus that focus on making primary school meals even healthier - a key priority for parents, carers, students and school staff who were consulted last year.

The new menus include many of the dishes Bracknell children named as favourites but there is a fresh emphasis on higher quality ingredients such as organic milk, free-range eggs and local produce.

Children will be encouraged to eat fresh vegetables and help themselves to crunchy salad, crusty bread, fresh fruit and yoghurt which will be available every day.

Schools will send parents a copy of the new school menu, which is also available on the Council's website, in the next few days.

In the consultation over half of secondary school students said healthy eating concerned them but cost was the biggest factor in choosing their lunch.

As a result Eden Foodservice will replace chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks and sweets with healthier options such as fresh fruit, juice and water in secondary schools.

Students will now benefit from new food-court style layout in their cafeterias with a choice of traditional, hot deli or cold deli-meals.

The deli services will offer fresh fruit, healthy drinks, yoghurt and a selection of fresh cakes, bakes and biscuits prepared on the premises. New recipes with more nutritious ingredients and lower levels of fat, sodium and sugar will be on offer.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Bracknell Education, Children's Services and Libraries, said: "I am delighted our children can now look forward to even healthier school meals this term.

"The new menus offer healthy, nutritious food and I hope parents will encourage their children to try them."

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Bracknell Education and Libraries, said: "Parents asked us to come up with healthier school meals when we consulted them and that is exactly what we have done.

"Our children are eating tasty food made with better quality ingredients and I am pleased we are playing our part in helping them build a healthy future. I hope parents will now do their bit by encouraging their children to try out the new meals."

Expert dieticians at Bracknell Forest Primary Care Trust inspect and approve the menus on behalf of the Council. They will also be checked against Government regulations coming into force this month for primary schools.

Download a sample primary school menu and find out more about the new school meals at: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/schoolmeals

Bracknell Forest Borough Council