Welcome to hertsdirect.org

School meals - a recipe for success

Increasing numbers of Hertfordshire children are tucking into great tasting school meals.

Latest figures show that 47 per cent of pupils in the county’s primary schools are opting for school meals.

Hertfordshire Catering, the County Council’s school meal provider, was busy serving up 39,526 primary school meals a day during February 2008 - some 2,733 meals a day more than in February 2007.

And with a new Summer menu selection on offer, there should be even more meal appeal, with classic favourites and some new tastes to choose from for just £1.65 a day.

Hertfordshire County Council Leader Robert Gordon and Chief Executive Caroline Tapster joined children in the meal queue at Howe Dell Primary School in Hatfield to sample school food for themselves.

"School meals have certainly been transformed since I went to school," said Caroline Tapster, who opted for homemade lasagne with broccoli followed by fresh fruit salad.
"I really enjoyed going back to school and the quality of my meal shows that Hertfordshire's catering staff are serving tasty, balanced meals that are great value for money."

The new summer term three week menu selection offers children a traditional main meal or a vegetarian option, along with yogurt, fresh fruit, vegetables and salads.

Children should be spoilt for choice in the latest meal selection - from salmon with chilli sauce, Italian pasta bake and Moroccan quorn casserole, to traditional roasts, shepherd’s pie and Suffolk pork sausages.

“The fact that increasing numbers of children are enjoying wholesome school food speaks for itself," said Robert Gordon, who enjoyed his meal of lasagne and salad followed by yogurt.

"Schools are encouraging a healthy lifestyle as part of the curriculum and children benefit from eating a healthy meal at lunchtime. Parents can see that school lunches really are full of goodness and quality ingredients and I'm sure they will encourage their children to try them to see how good they are."

Parents visit www.hertsdirect.org/catering to see the new Summer menus. They can call the Nutritional Action Line 01707 292500 between 10am and 4pm if they have any questions.