School meals - pupils asked to cook up a logo

As part of a drive to increase the amount of pupils who eat school meals, school children in Monmouthshire are being asked to take part in a competition to design a logo to promote school meals

Sally Gaskins, Monmouthshire County Council's School Development Officer, explained:

"We are sending a competition to all Monmouthshire primary schools asking pupils to design a Monmouthshire School Meals logo or character that we can adopt on all publications and literature, with the aim of raising the profile of school meals.  The design will need to reflect ideas of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles."

Pupils will have the chance to win the following prizes:

1^st Prize - Mountain Bike

2^nd Prize - £50 sports voucher

3^rd Prize £25 sports voucher

The percentage of children having school meals has been declining for several years in Monmouthshire, which mirrors national trends.  Currently 39% of children have school meals.

Sally said:

"For the first time, Monmouthshire's school menu includes vegetarian options for everyone. There is fresh fruit and salad available daily, fish products are fortified with Omega-3 and fried foods are restricted to twice a week (in line with Appetite for Life requirements). Meat used is British wherever possible and chips only appear on the menu once every 3 weeks.

"All cooks and catering assistants have accredited training in OCN ‘Nutrition and Healthy Catering' and there is continued investment into school kitchens with new equipment and refits. Training for lunchtime supervisors is also planned for the new year.

"School meals give kids choice and variety and they are convenient for parents as they don't have to prepare a packed lunch every morning. Eating school meals together is sociable and we can all be sure that our children are eating a nutritionally balanced meal."

The Welsh Assembly's Appetite for Life Plan means Monmouthshire County Council must increase the uptake of school meals. The Appetite for Life Plan aims to improve nutritional standards for food and drink provided by schools in Wales.