Healthy Eating and the school's Food Policies
Our normal menus are climate-friendly Menus, reducing carbon emissions from food production and increasing the amount of vegetables in Pupils meals. The changes have been spurred on by the IPCC’s (intergovernmental panel) report on climate change. Leeds City Council declared a climate emergency in March 2019 and Is committed to making Leeds carbon neutral by 2030. School meals are a great place to start reducing the City’s carbon footprint. Catering Leeds are the catering provider for the majority of primary schools within the City. We are working with the Leeds City Council Health and Wellbeing Service team, plus food awareness organisation Pro-Veg to reduce the carbon footprint and improve the nutritional profile of the meal. Some of the changes we are introducing include:
More Vegetarian and Vegan dishes – we have a non- meat day each week, vegetarian day and vegan options
Renaming plant based dishes to make them more appealing to everyone
Adding more vegetables into main dishes, sauces and desserts such as parsnip in flapjack
Increasing raw vegetables with a main course, such as finger vegetable sticks with a pizza and pasta day.
All this, in addition to the fantastic colourful Salads Catering Leeds provide in school which provide pupils with a rainbow of salad and vegetables.
Our ongoing commitment to the Leeds Healthy Weight Declaration is also apparent in this menu, with smaller portions of cake being served, always accompanied with fresh fruit. The savoury dessert of cheese and crackers with fresh fruit wedges also makes a re-appearance.
For more information from Leeds City Council Catering team about school meals click on the link: School Meals Information
We cater for children with allergies - if your child has a specific food allergy, please let the school office know.
We do not allow nuts or nut products in school and follow the guidelines from Allergy UK.
Our School's Food Policy and Packed Lunch Policy explain what we expect as part of our schools 'Healthy Schools' status.
Healthy Packed Lunch
Children who bring a packed lunch to school (years 3-6 only) should also follow the healthy foods policy of the school.
There should be NO:
- Nuts/nut based products ( we have some children with severe nut allergies in school)
- Chocolate
- Fizzy /energy drinks/sugary fruit juice
- No HOT food
- No fast food - (burger/chips/chicken)
A good well balanced packed lunch may include:
- A sandwich or wrap
- Fruit
- Yogurt
- Cereal bar
- Cheese
- Water
There are some great ideas for packed lunches here