New shake-up for school meals

The Government has unveiled a radical overhaul of school meals, in an effort to encourage children to eat more healthily.

The Healthy Living Blueprint launched by the Department for Education and Skills is designed to shake up the sort of school meals children get, what they learn about food and the access they have to sports and exercise.

The £5.7m campaign is being seen by ministers as a key part of its battle to tackle rising obesity levels in children.

The blueprint sets out what schools should be doing to help children lead healthier lives.

More than £1m is being invested to improve school meals, according to education secretary Charles Clarke.

Schools will be encouraged to reduce the salt and fat content of meals and to offer healthier meals.

Nutritional standards for secondary schools, which were only introduced in 2001, are being revised. There will be extra support for head teachers and governors in sourcing healthy meals and improved training and support for catering staff, said the DFES.

by Nic Paton

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