Summer menu for Carmarthenshire children
Children across Carmarthenshire will be getting their first taste of the new summer menu when it launches in the county’s primary schools on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.
The menu, designed and implemented by Carmarthenshire Catering Service – part of the county council – follows the Welsh Assembly’s Appetite for Life recommendations to improve the health of children by offering nutritionally-balanced school meals.
Each meal is nutritionally analysed using sophisticated computer software to ensure it contains the right balance of vitamins and minerals.
Over 19,000 two-course meals are served to school children every day, with vegetarian options and specially produced meals to cater for individual special dietary requirements.
The new summer menu is packed full of tasty homemade meals, with usual favourites including chicken or vegetable Korma, rice and Naan bread, and spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread.
New additions include a meal designed by Elen Jenkins, a year six pupil at Llanelli’s Ysgol Dewi Sant.
Her ‘Perfect Pepper Pasta’ dish will be served on week three of the rolling rota, with a fruit salad dessert.
Catering services manager Sandra Weigel said: “The new summer menu is packed with nutritious healthy meals which are analysed to make sure children have a balanced meal daily.
“Nearly all of our meals are homemade, they are cooked fresh daily by our team of expert cooks, and locally sourced produce is used wherever possible as part of the authority’s Local Sustainable Food Strategy.”
Each two-course school meal – which includes a fresh cooked meal and dessert – costs £2.00, which compares favourably with the cost of providing a daily packed lunch.
Many families are eligible for free school meals, providing they receive certain benefits.
Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge, executive board member for education and children’s services, said: “Our award-winning school meals service is one of the best in Wales, and our figures prove it – we currently have a take up of around 60 per cent in Carmarthenshire, compared to a Welsh average of 38 per cent.
“I’d urge all families to think about school meals – they are healthier, cheaper, and contribute to a child’s health and wellbeing.”
The menu, designed and implemented by Carmarthenshire Catering Service – part of the county council – follows the Welsh Assembly’s Appetite for Life recommendations to improve the health of children by offering nutritionally-balanced school meals.
Each meal is nutritionally analysed using sophisticated computer software to ensure it contains the right balance of vitamins and minerals.
Over 19,000 two-course meals are served to school children every day, with vegetarian options and specially produced meals to cater for individual special dietary requirements.
The new summer menu is packed full of tasty homemade meals, with usual favourites including chicken or vegetable Korma, rice and Naan bread, and spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread.
New additions include a meal designed by Elen Jenkins, a year six pupil at Llanelli’s Ysgol Dewi Sant.
Her ‘Perfect Pepper Pasta’ dish will be served on week three of the rolling rota, with a fruit salad dessert.
Catering services manager Sandra Weigel said: “The new summer menu is packed with nutritious healthy meals which are analysed to make sure children have a balanced meal daily.
“Nearly all of our meals are homemade, they are cooked fresh daily by our team of expert cooks, and locally sourced produce is used wherever possible as part of the authority’s Local Sustainable Food Strategy.”
Each two-course school meal – which includes a fresh cooked meal and dessert – costs £2.00, which compares favourably with the cost of providing a daily packed lunch.
Many families are eligible for free school meals, providing they receive certain benefits.
Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge, executive board member for education and children’s services, said: “Our award-winning school meals service is one of the best in Wales, and our figures prove it – we currently have a take up of around 60 per cent in Carmarthenshire, compared to a Welsh average of 38 per cent.
“I’d urge all families to think about school meals – they are healthier, cheaper, and contribute to a child’s health and wellbeing.”
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