1. New standards for food in schools

2. What’s happening to food in schools?
The government has introduced new standards for food in schools.
From September 2006, all schools must offer healthier (better balanced) choices at lunchtime.
Food served in school at other times of the day, for example, in breakfast clubs, tuck-shops and vending machines will also have to meet new standards by September 2007.
Teachers’ notes
There are three parts to the Government’s new standards for school food, to be phased in by September Together they cover all food sold or served in schools.
This presentation looks at the first part of the new standards - food-based standards for school lunches - which came into effect in September 2006.
The second part of the new standards will cover school food other than that served at lunch (e.g. in tuck-shops and vending machines). Most of the same food-based standards will apply as for lunches. Although these standards do not have to be met until September 2007, the Government recommends that schools start working towards them from September If this is the case in your school, pupils may already see a difference e.g. no confectionary in vending machines. The reasons given later in this presentation for introducing standards for lunches apply equally well to other food in schools.
Nutrient-based standards for school lunches will also be introduced to secondary schools by September 2009 but are not covered here.

3. What are the new standards? On the menu!
 More Fruit and Vegetables
At least two servings of fruit and vegetables available at lunch.
 More Oily Fish
Oily fish such as mackerel and salmon served at least once every three weeks.
 Bread
Bread available at lunch every day.
 Drinking Water
Free, fresh drinking water available at all times.
 Healthier Drinks
The only other drinks available are skimmed or semi‑skimmed milk, pure fruit juices, yoghurt and milk drinks, smoothies, tea, coffee and low-calorie hot chocolate.
Teachers’ notes
The new food standards for school lunches fall into two categories: (1) healthier products that should be on the school menu, (2) foods that are restricted or no longer allowed.
Under the new standards, food and drinks “on the menu” at lunchtime are those which many children need to eat more of as part of a healthy diet. They are rich in nutrients and are healthier alternatives to the high-calorie, low-nutrient food and drinks that currently constitute many children’s lunchtime choices. Of course, they are not the only nutritious foods to be served at lunchtime but are highlighted to help ensure that they are eaten more frequently by pupils.

4.  Manufactured Meat Products
What are the new standards? Off the menu! These foods are no longer allowed or restricted
 No Confectionary
Chocolate bars, chocolate biscuits and sweets are not allowed.
 No Savoury Snacks
Savoury snacks such as crisps are not allowed. Only nuts and seeds with no added salt, sugar or fat are allowed.
 Salt
Not available at lunch. Condiments, such as ketchup and mayonnaise, only available in sachets.
 Deep-Fried Foods
No more than two deep-fried foods, such as chips, in a week.
 Manufactured Meat Products
These products, such as chicken nuggets and burgers, can only be served occasionally and must meet standards for minimum meat content.
Teachers’ notes
A growing part of many children’s diets is manufactured food high in salt, sugar and fat. These provide “empty calories” which will fill children up but do not provide the essential nutrients they need for healthy physical and mental development. Under the new standards, foods such as confectionary, crisps and fizzy drinks are no longer allowed or restricted at lunchtime - they are “off the menu” to be replaced with more nutritious food and drink.
The new food standards for school lunches also include restrictions on manufactured meat products. This group includes burgers, sausages, shaped meat and poultry products, sausage rolls, pies, and pasties. Manufactured meat products may only be served occasionally as part of school lunches, provided that they: meet the legal minimum meat content levels; are not economy burgers; and contain no prohibited offal (such as brain and spinal cord).

5. Why have the new standards been introduced?
To make it easier to choose a healthy balance of food during the school day
e.g. more fruit and vegetables and less fatty and sugary food
To improve the quality of the food available
e.g. better quality meat
Teachers’ notes
The new standards were developed following research showing that children were not making healthy food choices at lunchtime, and that school meals did not meet their nutritional needs. The standards are therefore designed to make it easier for pupils to choose a healthy balance of food during the school day. It is intended that the changes to school food will help to re-balance pupils’ diets; reducing the amount of food consumed with too much sugar, fat and salt and little nutritional value (e.g. chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks) and increasing nutrient-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables.
The new standards will also improve the quality of the food available - e.g. high quality meat, poultry or fish will available on a regular basis replacing manufactured meat products which can now only be served occasionally and must meet standards for minimum meat content.

6. Why is a better balance of food during the school day important?
Feel better
The right diet helps keep energy levels high and gives you the get up and go to help you enjoy life to the full
Look better
Eating well helps make sure skin and hair are getting all the nutrients they need to keep them healthy and looking good. It's important for a healthy weight too.
Think better
Helps concentration and your mind stay sharp
Better health
What you eat and drink can have a big influence on your health now and in the future. A good diet can help build up your bones, boost your immune system, keep your heart healthy, help prevent anaemia and tooth decay.
Teachers’ notes
The new standards for food in schools are designed to improve the balance of the pupils’ diets during the school day. A better balanced diet can have benefits for how they look and feel, and for their health.
From the pupils’ perspective, the more immediate benefits of a better balanced diet (e.g. feeling and looking good, better concentration) are likely to be of greater relevance and more motivational than longer-term health benefits (e.g. heart health).