New school meal options are proving to be top of the class, according to Perth and Kinross Council.
Options for eating in schools are increasing, with pupils’ feedback helping to deliver choice and nutritional benefits.
While food services in Perth and Kinross are governed by health improvement legislation, consultation with pupils is ensuring the range of services continues to meet what young people consider as priorities. This is evident in all secondary schools and particularly new community campuses where secondary schools are based.
The new facilities offer comfortable, well-equipped dining areas with more seating and plenty of natural light amid contemporary design features and have already proved very popular with pupils. Increasing menu choices and better dining facilities have led to a rise in the number of pupils taking school meals.
Most food choices in campus schools are available throughout lunchtime. Options include well-stocked main meal counters, fresh food and drinks vending machines, electronic pre-order kiosks giving priority collection at meal counters, dedicated hot and cold snack kiosks and mobile counters.
The latest addition is a barbecue service at Kinross and Crieff high schools and St John’s Academy, which now extends choice on specific days. Pupils have already been enjoying the chance to dine “al fresco” from a range of specially-made barbecue choices, each of which meets national nutritional standards, and there are more recipes being developed.
Lifelong learning convener Councillor Liz Grant said pupils are playing a major role in helping the council and its partners provide good healthy food.
“The council and Tayside Contracts have listened closely to pupils’ feedback and taken the comments they’ve given as the basis for developing some great ideas for school meals,” she said. “So far these have proved to be very successful.
“We are committed to taking an imaginative and enthusiastic approach to delivering food services in our schools, something the minister for children and early years recognised when he visited Loch Leven Community Campus recently.”
The community campus catering service can also cater for visitors, whether they want a drink or snack after sports or visiting the library, or coffee during an event.
Each campus has a Food To Go kiosk as well as drinks and snacks vending offering a varied selection. Larger groups are encouraged to inquire in advance and order to avoid unnecessary queuing.
Tayside Contracts also offers hospitality catering for meetings, children’s parties, interval refreshments and food and drink for gatherings and special occasions. Catering choices can be made either by selecting from sample menus or through bespoke arrangements to meet customers’ requirements.
For further information about the services available for pupils and visitors call the catering support team on 01738 476341 or visit the council website at www.pkc.gov.uk/communitycampuses.
Photo used under a Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user slj_tribe.