Children will be tucking into more of their lunchtime favourites this term as Hampshire County Council Catering Services (HC3S) launch the new school meal menu for Summer (3 May).

Listening To Parents And Pupils

As a result of feedback collected from pupils and parents via special online voting web pages via www.myschoollunch.co.uk/hampshire, primary lunches will now feature two roast dinners each week rather than one, as well as even more local produce than ever before with the introduction of locally produced meatballs from Laverstoke Park in Overton. Favourites such as buffalo burgers from Laverstoke Park will also remain on the menu for another term.

Award-Winning Healthy Meals

HC3S provides meals for over 448 primary and special schools and 31 secondary schools across the county. With ingredients sourced from around 26 local suppliers, HC3S’s use of local produce and relationship with suppliers has also recently scooped national recognition from Cost Sector Catering with the award of ‘UK Education Caterer of the Year’.

Supporting Local Growers And Producers

Fruit and vegetables when in season are bought from local market gardeners and growers, Hampshire pork and beef are also being used, and eggs are free range and come from the New Forest. Cheese is made using milk from cows grazed on the Dorset/Somerset border, and apple juice is produced in Alton where the taste of the apple juice changes over the year as the apple crops change.

As part of efforts to ensure that pupils across the county tuck into delicious, nutritionally balanced and healthy meals at lunchtime, throughout the year pupils can select a main meal, a side helping of vegetables and salad and a dessert, which combine to make up a third of the recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals for a child.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said:

“Every parent knows that not only do meals have to be healthy and nutritious, but they have to be tasty too.

“HC3S welcomes feedback on the quality of school meals and as a result, parents can rest assured that not only are children tucking into their favourites at lunchtime, but they are also enjoying a balanced meal to support learning in the classroom, as well as supporting local growers and producers and the Hampshire economy.”

The new school menu begins on 3 May 2011.

For five consecutive years, HC3S has also been recognised for keeping school meals free from artificial colourings and preservatives. Meanwhile, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) which promotes the use of fish and seafood from sustainable stocks has also recognised a number of Hampshire’s fish dishes.

The price of a school meal for 2011/12 has been frozen and will be £2.00 for a third consecutive year.