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| 'Fewer pupils' take school meals | 'Fewer pupils' take school meals |
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| Moves to improve the quality of meals in English secondary schools have resulted in fewer pupils taking them this term, a BBC News survey suggests. | Moves to improve the quality of meals in English secondary schools have resulted in fewer pupils taking them this term, a BBC News survey suggests. |
| Fifty-nine local authorities responded, of which 35 (59%) said the number of pupils eating dinners had gone down. | Fifty-nine local authorities responded, of which 35 (59%) said the number of pupils eating dinners had gone down. |
| Of those, 71% agreed Jamie Oliver's healthy meals campaign was a reason. | Of those, 71% agreed Jamie Oliver's healthy meals campaign was a reason. |
| However, the School Food Trust - set up by the government in 2005 to improve school food - predicted that the downturn would be temporary. | However, the School Food Trust - set up by the government in 2005 to improve school food - predicted that the downturn would be temporary. |
| Chief executive Judy Hargadon said: "We expected there to be a bit of a downturn; children are going to have to get used to eating more healthy food at school and it takes a while for them to get used to that. | Chief executive Judy Hargadon said: "We expected there to be a bit of a downturn; children are going to have to get used to eating more healthy food at school and it takes a while for them to get used to that. |
| "Some schools have however proved that it can be done and that children really enjoy eating healthy food, so our job is to help people get through this dip." | "Some schools have however proved that it can be done and that children really enjoy eating healthy food, so our job is to help people get through this dip." |
| We have got to really work hard educating the children on why they should be eating this Irene Carroll, Local Authority Caterers Association href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4639&edition=1&ttl=20061106085559" class="">Send us your comments | |
| Of the 59 authorities that responded to the survey, six had more pupils taking meals, eight reported no change and 10 said the changes were not applicable. | Of the 59 authorities that responded to the survey, six had more pupils taking meals, eight reported no change and 10 said the changes were not applicable. |
| Half said a factor in the decline was the restrictions imposed on vending machines, while some said the prolonged warm weather had had an effect. | Half said a factor in the decline was the restrictions imposed on vending machines, while some said the prolonged warm weather had had an effect. |
| Overall the decline was just 5.8%, though individual areas had seen decreases of as much as 30%. | Overall the decline was just 5.8%, though individual areas had seen decreases of as much as 30%. |
| Declining pupil take-up of school meals has also been reported in Scotland and Wales, following drives there to improve the quality. | Declining pupil take-up of school meals has also been reported in Scotland and Wales, following drives there to improve the quality. |
| Complicated food | Complicated food |
| Maureen Lowes, catering services manager for Barking and Dagenham, said she saw a drop after menus were overhauled last year. | Maureen Lowes, catering services manager for Barking and Dagenham, said she saw a drop after menus were overhauled last year. |
| SHORT LUNCH BREAKS The only child getting 25 minutes to eat is the first one in the queue Irene CarrollLocal Authority Caterers Association She said the new menus had had to be modified because they were too complicated and children were being offered food they did not recognise. | SHORT LUNCH BREAKS The only child getting 25 minutes to eat is the first one in the queue Irene CarrollLocal Authority Caterers Association She said the new menus had had to be modified because they were too complicated and children were being offered food they did not recognise. |
| "There's no recognition for what we see as traditional dishes," she said. | "There's no recognition for what we see as traditional dishes," she said. |
| "We have now opted for things that are simply more recognisable. Children said they were suspicious of complicated flavours. | "We have now opted for things that are simply more recognisable. Children said they were suspicious of complicated flavours. |
| "Dishes like a traditional hearty casserole in wintertime. Kids are not eating these things at home." | "Dishes like a traditional hearty casserole in wintertime. Kids are not eating these things at home." |
| Irene Carroll, national chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association, said it was concerned that income from meals was falling at the same time as costs had risen because of having to use healthier ingredients. | Irene Carroll, national chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association, said it was concerned that income from meals was falling at the same time as costs had risen because of having to use healthier ingredients. |
| She said a key problem was that children were not being given healthy food by their parents. | She said a key problem was that children were not being given healthy food by their parents. |
| "Jamie hung his programme on school meals. It was a shame because school meals weren't the real problem," she said. | "Jamie hung his programme on school meals. It was a shame because school meals weren't the real problem," she said. |
| Jamie Oliver has run a high-profile campaign to improve nutrition | Jamie Oliver has run a high-profile campaign to improve nutrition |
| "It's what they are eating out of school that is the problem. We have got to really work hard educating the children on why they should be eating this." | "It's what they are eating out of school that is the problem. We have got to really work hard educating the children on why they should be eating this." |
| Mrs Carroll added that another issue affecting school dinner take up was shorter lunch breaks which give pupils no time to eat full meals. | Mrs Carroll added that another issue affecting school dinner take up was shorter lunch breaks which give pupils no time to eat full meals. |
| "Lunch time periods now are so short," she said. | "Lunch time periods now are so short," she said. |
| "Ideally we would look to give them a plated meal and pudding. But they have got 30 minutes and in many cases they've got 25 minutes. | "Ideally we would look to give them a plated meal and pudding. But they have got 30 minutes and in many cases they've got 25 minutes. |
| "And the only child getting 25 minutes to eat is the first one in the queue." | "And the only child getting 25 minutes to eat is the first one in the queue." |
| The government introduced the changes in an effort to promote healthier lifestyles among children and reduce obesity levels. | The government introduced the changes in an effort to promote healthier lifestyles among children and reduce obesity levels. |