Cash boost for school meals urged
A leading food expert has warned that local councils need to put more money into school meals if children are to eat healthier.
Prue Leith, the chair of the School Food Trust, said there had been "massive improvements" in school food but that progress was still "patchy" in places where school food was not thought to be a priority.
Ms Leith said: "We do still have some local authorities who are not yet signed up, maybe because they have got other priorities."
She added that it was up to headteachers to fight for what they need. She said: "If a headteacher wants a new kitchen she can get one, she might not get it this year, but she has to be persistent about getting it into the budget, there has never been more money going into schools."
Ms Leith said the major challenge for next year will be getting secondary schools to commit to providing their students with healthy lunches.
Next year will see the introduction of new rules which will make it compulsory for secondary schools to provide meals with certain nutritional standards – as has already been done in primary schools from September.
Copyright © Press Association 2008
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