'Too much choice' on school menus

Prue Leith says children always enjoy learning to cook

The best way to ensure children eat a healthy school meal is to cut down the choice of food available, chef Prue Leith is to tell teachers.

As the chairman of the British Food Trust she will tell a Heads, Teachers and Industry conference on Thursday that demands for variety cannot be met.

She will also call for water to be freely available and for cookery lessons to be part of the curriculum.

England's Department for Education says it is committed to school meal reform.

It follows a campaign to improve the quality of school meals by chef Jamie Oliver.

Ms Leith, who has long campaigned for improved school dinners, said the excitement generated by Oliver was "very welcome" and that the Department for Education should be congratulated for "finally getting the message".

She will say that one of the key moves should be to cut down on choice.

Ofsted

"If I had my way we'd go back to no choice," she will say. "The problem with a range of food in a cafeteria is that it's impossible to make every day different and interesting."

The government has said that school meals will be included as part of Ofsted inspections from September.

Ms Leith said cookery lessons should be compulsory to get children enjoying food.

Ms Leith will say: "I think the best way to get children to like food is for them to cook it.

"I've taught cooking for 40 years and have never yet met a child who did not enjoy it."

Obesity

Parents also need to be involved, she said, and they need to accept that the cost of a school meal may rise.

"I have little patience with parents who say that the cost of a meal at £1.30 is too much.

"Yes it's a lot. But if you do not have to buy your child chips, fizzy drinks and chocolate every day, isn't that money well spent?"

Another option would be to stagger the school breaks so each year group had a separate meal time, she said.

She will tell the conference, entitled They are what they eat, that if school meals and children's diets are not tackled 40% of the population will be obese by 2010.

"If children are adequately fed at school, why would they need cokes, sweets and crisps?" she will say.

Reform

The Department for Education and Skills said it was committed to reforming the health content of school meals.

A spokesperson said: "We are committed to reforming the health content of school meals. £220 million new investment in school food, supported by new minimum standards for school meals from September, will ensure that only healthy choices can be made, with water freely available throughout the school day.

"Alongside giving children better meals, we want to ensure that they learn about diet, nutrition, food safety & hygiene, practical food preparation and cooking.

"Preparing and cooking food is a key skill that will benefit them as they move into adulthood and independence.

"That is why we have asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to consider how to put a greater emphasis on teaching pupils practical cooking skills in secondary schools for 11 to 14 year olds."