The Scottish Government produced regulations for all Scottish Local Authorities on school meals and Healthy Eating in Schools. Within West Dunbartonshire Council, we are absolutely delighted at the success of our healthy eating programmes.
We have taken a whole school approach to educating children and young people to eat a correctly balanced diet at lunchtime and through the day. The good eating habits formed will go with pupils into the future.
The success of healthy eating in West Dunbartonshire has been highlighted by school inspectors. It has been recognised as examples of good practice by Health Nutrition Inspectors as part of school HMIe Inspections.
Primary Schools
Within primary schools we were quick to attain the nutritional standards laid down in a new school meals menu. This menu now offers a set price two course home cooked, freshly prepared and wholesome nutritional meal at lunchtime, at current price of £1.70.
The school meals service offers, although the choice will change daily:
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homemade soup
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two or three main meal options
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a salad bar selection
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homemade sweet or voghurt
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fresh fruit
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water or milk or fruit juice to drink
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choice of breads
Present 6-week menu for primary schools (36 KB)
All recipes for these meals have been developed with low fat, sugar and salt content to meet the Healthy Eating in Schools nutritional requirements. To do this, our meals have been analysed using a nutritional computer program to ensure they are balanced over the week and giving children the required nutrients.
Secondary Schools
All secondary schools are also meeting the Healthy Eating in Schools nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools.
All secondary schools have meal deals available. Meal deals are available to order using the pre-order computer system. Pupils order and pay for their food before lunch, then at lunch time they can just pick up their food and do not have to wait.
A four week menu cycle offers:
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homemade soup of the day
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two or three main meal options
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a salad bar selection
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variety of healthier alternative snack options
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homemade sweet, fresh fruit or yoghurt
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non-carbonated soft drinks, milk or water
Present 4-week menu for secondary schools (25 KB)
Meal deals menu (14 KB)
Packed Lunches
The uptake of our school meals varies from school to school. West Dunbartonshire want to encourage a more nutritionally balanced diet in schools were school meals are poorly taken up. Therefore, we are running a pilot scheme in 6 schools for primaries 1-3 in the 2010-11 school year, which will look at giving pupils an alternative, but nutritionally balanced, packed lunch.
