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School meals take up increased by 14 percent

Published: Monday, 11 November 2019

Havering has an extra special reason to celebrate National School Meals Week (NSMW) after seeing a 14 percent increase in school catered lunches since launching their multi-award winning Veggie Run.

NSMW (11-15 November) is a great opportunity to celebrate all that is great about Havering Education Services Catering Service’s nutritious school meals, which are served daily in 56 schools to more than 22,000 pupils. 

During the week, pupils will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious and healthy menu including ravioli vegan pasta, BBQ chicken with savoury veg rice, beef, macaroni cheese, roast gammon dinner and salmon crumb fillet plus unlimited salad and vegetables, and a tasty dessert. 

Trevor Cook, Assistant Director of Education Services, said: 

“School catered lunches are so important for pupils across the borough as evidence has shown that only one percent of packed lunches met the government standards for healthy school meals. By increasing lunch uptake by more than 300,000 meals within one year we know more Havering pupils than ever are enjoying a nutritious two-course school meal at lunchtime, which supports academic attainment, helps improved concentration and has a positive impact on behaviour in the classroom. 

“Veggie Run was created as an educational app and healthy living campaign to directly promote the rewards of eating a healthy catered meal to four-to-11 year old. Through the Veggie Run campaign we also created collaborations with West Ham United, Quorn, Halfords and London Marathon Events who have all awarded sporty prizes to 1000s of pupils and schools.”  

HES Catering Services, along with their suppliers WW Meats and Prescott-Thomas Ltd, also want to give pupils a chance to develop their cooking skills at home with their family. Each week throughout the academic year, one pupil will have the opportunity to win a family roast dinner box worth £25 to prepare and enjoy at home.