Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Children and parents are being asked to give their views about school meals during National School Meals Week. Carmarthenshire County Council’s award -winning catering department is seeking feedback on the quality of the menus and the service provided. They are under taking a consultation, which people can take part in online via Carmarthenshire County Council’s website at ilocal.carmarthenshire.gov.uk The consultation period ends on Monday, November 17, but with National School Meals week taking place across the country, there is a push to get parents’ views. All ideas and suggestions made during the consultation will be considered to improve the school meals service wherever possible. Catering Services Manager Sandra Weigel said: “Many years of on-going research has taken place for school lunches, and we are taking this opportunity to further engage with parents and pupils to identify additional areas for development for the future. “We are very fortunate that Castell Howell, our ...

More than 90,000 school meals were served up in Carmarthenshire during National School Meals Week celebrations. Dylan the Dragon, the Carmarthenshire Catering Service’s school meals mascot, visited some schools to encourage children to enjoy healthy school meals. Three Ambassador Lunches were also held, at Llanelli’s Old Road, Tycroes and Nantgaredig schools, where local councillors, MPs, and food suppliers were invited in for a school meal. The highlight of the week though was a special themed menu featuring a traditional roast dinner – a meal which continues to be a firm favourite in Carmarthenshire schools. As well as being a special treat for children who normally enjoy school meals, it is hoped that the event has encouraged more children to enjoy a healthy balanced meal during the school day. Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering department organises themed days across the whole year as well as competitions to encourage pupils to socialise and try new dishes that they mig...

National School Meals Week has gone down a treat with children in Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Catering Service served up thousands of healthy school meals throughout the week and also laid on a special Italian themed meal to mark Go Travelling day. As well as being a special treat for children who normally enjoy school meals, it is hoped that the event has encouraged more children to try a school meal. Sandra Weigel, Catering Services Manager, said: “National School Meals Week is an ideal time to introduce children to new tastes and foods – and also to encourage parents who usually give their children packed lunched to try a school meal. “School meals compare better in terms of both nutritional and financial value. With the price of shopping going up, packed lunches are not only becoming more expensive, but very often they do not provide enough nutritional value which children need in order to concentrate in the classroom and to help them lead a healthy lifestyle....

Forget the Guinness Book of Records – Carmarthenshire’s school meals service is going for the Biggest School Lunch. On Monday, November 8, the county is aiming to break the record for the number of pupils eating school meals in Carmarthenshire. Every school has been asked to promote the day and competitions are being run with prizes on offer including PE equipment or craft materials. Catering Services Manager Sandra Weigel said: “School meals are an important part of the day; a nutritious and fulfilling meal at lunchtime can give a child more energy for afternoon lessons, improve concentration and help to prevent health problems later in life. “With obesity issues regularly featuring in the news, Carmarthenshire catering service is constantly trying to find new ways to inform parents and pupils about healthy eating lifestyles. “One of the ways to promote our new healthy primary winter menu is the Carmarthenshire’s Biggest Lunch event where we hope to break the record for the number of ...