Advertiser News
School dinner prices frozen
2:10pm Wednesday 1st February 2012
The price of school meals in Hampshire have been pegged for the fourth year running.
Meals served by Hampshire County Council’s Catering Service are to be kept the at £2 per meal. At his recent decision day, Roy Perry, Hampshire County Council’s deputy leader and executive lead member for children’s services, approved the price freeze.
The county says there is increased take-up of meals, with around seven million likely to be served in he county’s primary schools by the end of the school year. More than one in three pupils (34,000 children each day), are now eating a school meal, putting Hampshire’s percentage meal take-up at its highest ever level.
The number of pupils taking school meals in the autumn term was up by 10 per cent on the same time last year.
The rise in popularity is being attributed to the addition of a number of tasty lunchtime choices on the menu, including roast dinners, which are now available twice a week, turkey curry, pizza, and fish on a Friday, and vegetarians, choices which include sweet potato and lentil curry, vegetable and bean bake and Italian tomato pasta.
Meals are made from ingredients sourced from around 26 local suppliers, say the council.
Mr Perry said: “The school meals service plays an important role in the development of healthy eating in children, providing them with a choice of high-quality meals served daily in most of our schools. The service also plays a part in supporting local food producers where possible, which is important for the development of the Hampshire economy.
“The increased take-up has enabled us to hold the price for the fourth year in a row. I am mindful that we are living in difficult economic times, so hope this news is welcomed by parents. In my view, the meals represent excellent value for money, providing a nutritious lunchtime meal for pupils.”