Are you watching Jamie Oliver's school dinners?

[MunchedTooManyMarsLady]

Jamie's being given a run for his money. Loving it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I really hated about tonight's programme was the mother serving up bloody turkey twizzlers or whatever they're called to her kids, then saying 'Oh no, I wouldn't eat that, it's rubbish and it tastes awful'. I would never serve my kids something I wouldn't be happy to eat myself.

Really interesting about the way the kids' behaviour changed without the crap food though...multiply that out throughout the whole school and imagine what the end result could be.

I thought it was v. interesting about the behaviour - could it be that the deterioration in behaviour standards in schools is not just due to different upbringing methods, but also to diet?

The thing which struck me most, is that any head teacher would be prepared to skimp on a few more books if she had better behaved pupils! Then maybe the few books they have would go further!

Oh, I agree Hula, provide 3 or 4 healthy options and let them get on with it.

We frequently managed to time our supermarket trips to the lunch hour of the local school (incidently, the school had sold off their playing field for the supermarket to be built on...). The amount of times I would see the kids going in and buying their lunches - sometimes just a big bar of chocolate, other times a combination of crisps and chocolate...99% of the time it's rubbish. It's really irresponsible of the parents IMHO.

I am pretty sure that children's behaviour at school (and at home too) IS partly down to food intake. The kids are always more hyper after a break time or dinner time - following sugar and junk intakes of pop, sweets and junk food.

If they banned the junk then it would no doubt, not long after, have a masive impact int he classroom.

The supermarkets control EVERYTHING! I HATE THEM! They sell junk to us, put small shops out of business and help us fill dumps with plastic. And the government just sucks up to them.

I think definately changing the diet in schools will help with behavioural issues and concentration, etc.

And how depressing about selling off school playing fields to buld new supermarket

I used the school canteen yesterday - I wanted a bottle of water. Which actually I couldn't get (just tap water) - got a carton of juice drink as closest. Because I like this programme I watched what the kids were getting, and they get rubbish. Chips and beans, chips and gravy, sausage roll and beans, chocolate doughnut, crisps, fizzy pop, pizza and beans, ....

I saw two sicth form girls get salad and a bowl of pasta in a mayo type dressing. Then did then spoilt it though by getting crisps and cakes for after.

Re the behaviour issue - I posted this after last weeks program - my friend teaches in a primary school in Deptford that Jamie Oliver worked with.

My friend who teaches in JO'd primary school says the post lunch behaviour of the children has improved drastically.

She said that at first they were reluctant to eat the food but now 16 weeks in, they are eating it quite happily.

She does say that the lack of a proper pudding is leaving the children a little hungry. The school is in a very deprived area and for many of the children this meal will be their only hot meal of the day, for a smaller number still, it may well be their only meal

Is there any political will on this? I remember Jack Straw making a big issue out of school meals in the 1980s when he was a mere MP. So what have this government done so far, apart from encourage vending machines in schools? Any movement in the last few weeks?

I agree with that too MIL, I've started getting my veg delivered in an attempt to reduce my dependence on supermarkets. I find it horrifying that statistic about how much money is spent in Tesco, that just can't be right, can it?

Read Shopped by Joanna Blythman, very revealing (and quite disturbing).

I gather it is the budget that is not allowing them to have a pudding as well then?

Doesn't the government provide fruit in some areas? Could this not be extended? And then give the children fruit for dessert?

It made me very sad and angry...this isn't how our children should eat. And the budget - how can this be considered adequate. Agree with those who think that the awful behaviour in many schools may be connected with the equally awful diet. Contracting out and big food companies have a LOT to answer for. Hooray for Jamie though - I think he came across really well.

Is there any political will on this? I remember Jack Straw making a big issue out of school meals in the 1980s when he was a mere MP. So what have this government done so far, apart from encourage vending machines in schools? Any movement in the last few weeks?

We all know that it is about choice. What's wrong with guided choice? Like hula says, provide 3 or 4 healthy options and nothing else. We all know that kids won't let themselves starve. What do we do at home? We keep puttig things in front of our kids until they eat them. Mine eat such a variety of foods and they've all gone through, go through and will continue to go through fussy periods. Blimey, I hate broccoli. I don't expect my kids to like everything, but I do expect them to try things out. Fortunately DS1's school doesn't let them out at lunch times and the food options are mostly very healthy.

sorry, refreshed my browser and posted twice

I think that it's something that we should lobby our mps about. Not just signing Jamie's petition but actually writing to our own mps and asking them what they are doing about it.

Sorry - they get fruit or yoghurt for pudding. But its not as filling as a more trad pudding would be. Also to make the budget work on the main courses (I imagine) the portions are quite small.

She worries about the children who only get a bag of crisps for dinner at home that calorifically their intake is too low now. That a good crumble or chocolate sponge would boost it more than a piece of fruit!

BUT even if they are having lower food intake they must still be getting more nutrition than before? I can't imagine those twizzler things had any nutrition in???

I agree that it is harder on those not getting more food at home - but then that is another issue altogether. Why are these kids not getting more food? Why do their parents not feed them?

And I do not believe that moeny is a factor,, sorry. At times in my childhood my parents had very little income coming in (due to 3 days weeks at work, etc.) and my parents always fed me good, nutrious healthy food but on a budget.

I'm probably not keeping up but I agree, this is part of a really big issue and it is worth lobbying our MPs. I've also read Shopped and am still reeling from it.

i can make a shepherds pie to feed six for around £4, if iremember to buy the stuff

Oh she has no doubts at all that its nutritionally miles better than the fodder they were getting before.

Kids don't get fed at home for a variety of different reasons. Its a desperately deprived area. Neglect of all kinds is rife. Some of her class came back to school after the christmas holidays wearing school sweatshirts that still had all the food stains on from the previous term. Their parents hadn't washed them!

On Monday just before lunchtime I dropped someone off at the train station. Driving back into the school yard was a mum lurking with 2 McDonald's takeaway meals. Waiting I guess for her precious to 'come and get it!'

Last September our school started to provide healthier options at the canteen and more pupils now use it. Where I brought a pack lunch everyday last year, I now do so 2/3 times a week. Sadly though, the quality seems to be waning and only today was telling myself I ought to go back to pack lunch everyday.

I was brought up by a single parent with not a lot of money and we ate meat and veg with rice and/or potatoes every night. Mum taught us to cook too and I'm not being funny but it's actually cheaper to cook from scratch than buy processed food. (Now don't get upset with me people. If you want to spend your money that way then you do so. I have fishfingers in my freezer for quick can't be arsed meals, but to be honest it's just as quick to throw a bit of chicken in the oven).

Misdee the school need to feed 6 children on £2.22(in total based on the Greenwich budget of 37p per meal) including all the veg, fruit for pud and the main course.