This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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School dinners making the grade
03/03/2005
School dinners are now healthier than ever before and
helping youngsters get a taste for healthy eating at an
early age, MSPs were told today.
Deputy Education Minister Euan Robson, who joined pupils
at Leith Primary for lunch today, said the Hungry for
Success initiative was making a real difference - a fact
recognised by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver who is currently
transforming school meals in England.
Mr Robson said:
"Thanks to Hungry for Success, Scotland is leading the
way in ensuring our school meals are healthier and more
appetising as well as giving pupils more choice.
"Our approach has been applauded at home and abroad and
that's why I have today written to Jamie Oliver, who is
particularly enthusiastic about our success, to invite him
to join me for lunch in a Scottish school.
"By introducing pupils to healthy food at a young age we
can help them to develop positive eating habits that will
stay with them for life.
"But we also recognise that there's no point in having
great dinners if no-one is eating them which is why we are
working to increase take-up by making dining halls
attractive places to be.
"Allied with our efforts to promote physical activity,
we believe that we can help improve the health of a future
generation of Scots."
The Executive is investing £63.5 million over three
years to 2005-2006 to improve young people's eating habits,
including:
- Larger portions of more nutritious food, at no
extra cost
- Nutrient standards to make meals healthier
- Improving the atmosphere and facilities in school
dining areas
- Providing all P1 and P2 pupils with free fruit at
least three times a week
- Providing free chilled drinking water in
schools
- Removing vending machines from dining areas and
ensuring that where vending machines do exist in
schools that they provide healthy alternatives