Mother challenges School dinners, over free range life style

[Clevercat]

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/4108292.Mum_s_frustration_at_bid_for__ethical__school_meals/

[hermes2007]

I know her shop in BOA and very good it is too.

“Unfortunately it is not possible for Sodexho to provide an organic free range menu for just one child. "
I agree, provide them for ALL the children.
When will they learn that the better we feed our children the better they will learn and grow up to be better adults. As they say in computing, Garbage In, Garbage Out. At a time when childhood obesity is a major problem, you would think schools would lead the way, but no, like hospitals, catering contracts are awarded on price.

Good find CC.
I wonder what the schools round here are like ?

[Clevercat]

I know that Southwick School cooks on site and uses some of the fresh vegetables that they grow within the School, and I think I am right in saying the Cook bakes the bread and cakes there too.

Will check on that though.

In an ideal world, yes, it would be great to follow this mothers mission and feed our children all free range produce and organic too.

I agree, it is a shame more money is not invested into this, because the people who benefit, are the ones who are shaping our future after all.

[Monica Reyes]

My childs school has no cooking facilites and all children have to take packed lunches, which I think is unusual these days.

There is no hot food on site, and none catered in either.

I am hoping this will change in the future as kids love a hot lunch dont they?

[Jimkerr]

I think sending her child with a lunch with the food that the mother think is best for her child to eat is a good thing but i don't and can't expect a school or whoever makes the meals to cater for different meals for pupils has this would cost alot more to create and cook so many different meals each day just because someone wants free range.

When i was school you had a choice of two meals and that was it these days in most schools you have more choice you can't expect to cater to each pupil a different meal.

[Yokel]

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/4108292.Mum_s_frustration_at_bid_for__ethical__school_meals/

Basically, this person is using this as free advertising for her shop - straight in in the first paragraph.  If she's doing this then making an example of your own kids to do so is, quite frankly, a bit sick.

I could not agree more with the comments below the article!

When MimiG goes to school I will expect her school meals to be good, basic food - food for the masses.  If I want her to have 100% organic etc etc then I'd have to provide it myself.      She's at nursery at the moment - she gets good, filling, food, but it's never as spicy or herby (flavoursome) or as adventurous as we feed her.  I have no problem with this - so long as shes getting her cals vits and mins we'll do the fancy stuff when we cook for her.   

I think SOdexho missed a trick - they should have said "Yes, we will provide this food.  It'll cost you £500 a day"

[Mike Hawkins]

I must agree with you on this.

School caterers cannot cater for all the food fads. What next, parents providing the caterers with a menu for each of their children for the next week.

A you say, publicity??

[hermes2007]

Clevercat already posted about this Yokel and I have to say (unusually) I completely disagree with you. I think you have missed the point of her argument, that her children should be fed decent food at school, not crap based on the lowest cost bid. I know her shop quite well and its a pity we haven't got something like it in Westbury. She is living up to her beliefs and I can't see why all children can't have decent food at school (and in hospitals too come to that).

[Monica Reyes]

I see this as publicity for her shop, but I feel it may have the opposite effect, and also, parading your children for all to see over a non story , is that wise? what about if they are now singled out, bullied, for being 'faddy ' and 'different'

I really do not think the mother thought this through.

Send your little darlings to school with produce from your shop if you want them to eat ethically, organically, etc, You have that choice.

[Yokel]

I agree kids shouldnt be given crap at the lowets cots bid but that simply isnt the case any more.  The offering of school meals is slowly but surely improving - naything else like this piece of unnecessary noise only serves to dilute the fact that we should try and get decent food in our kids and - lets be honest - at a decent price.  Price will always be a factor where there are parents who, quite frankly, wouldnt pay for it.