Why are school meals so bad?

[MondayImInLove]

I am not complaining about the quality, so not a question of costs.

What I don’t understand is why do they always have cake, biscuits, fried ingredients, lots of sauce etc?

I know the cakes are in theory healthier (sugar free, not sure about fat free) but it gives the DC the idea that fruit/yoghurt is not good enough and there has to be cake.

Why do they have to serve a potato (chips) option next to the veg? Of course most children will end up eating the fries. If the option was not there they would eat the veg.

Why are all mains covered in sauce, never steamed fish and veg for example?

I just don’t get it...

In our school, the meals are all very healthy, with steamed veg. I’d actually be happy if they were a bit more fattening as my children are very skinny and look scrawny during the school term.

The impact of children not eating enough carbs is significantly worse than the impact of them not eating enough veg.

I think the issues lie around being able to provide a 3 course meal for £2.30 ( in my area) and providing a variety that suits all needs. Yes, I'd love healthy veggies, but for some children, that may be the only meal they have that day, so their calorific needs need to be met. As well as the needs of the vegetarians, allergic children and everything in between. So what are you left with? Pasta and tomato sauce with a biscuit and a few cucumber sticks.