John Vincent’s blog on Mumsnet

30 Apr 2013

John Vincent writes about his experience of school food in the 70s and 80s and reflects on how much better school food is today:

I was at school in the 1970s and 1980s. At Chase Side Primary School in Enfield, I needed fuel to play kiss chase with Justine Willis (well, I am sure it was with others, but Justine was the main focus of the game) and to play football. The school meals were shipped in from another school and they were enough to put most non free school meals children off, and probably quite a few free school meals children too.

Today, scientific studies have proven that the school meals served in many schools are much more nutritious than packed lunches.

The good news is that many schools are realising this. Led by headteachers, supported by a committed bursar or business manager and passionate school cooks, these schools are focusing on the things that encourage children and parents to opt for a school meal: great food; social aspects such as short queues and being able to eat with friends; a nice place to eat; affordable prices; school food being seen as the cool or attractive thing to go for. In fact, Chase Side Primary School today is one of those – led by an inspiring headteacher Sally Quartson.

Read the full blog here: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/bloggers/1743795-Guest-blog-time-for-parents-and-children-to-help-improve-school-meals