Published on:
30
January 2003
A family of Clackmannanshire monsters is set to encourage local school children to eat school meals.
The Council's Catering Service is about to launch a monster-themed campaign to inform parents and pupils about the goodness of school meals.
The brightly coloured monsters aim to attract more pupils into the dining halls- and away from unhealthy snacks and sweets.
Councillor Alison Lindsay, Convener of the Learning and Leisure Committee said: "We're trying to catch the attention of young children by developing a campaign that's both fun and informative. Pupils don't want to be preached to about health eating - but if we can use cartoons, jokes and competitions to get the message across then so much the better."
Campaign materials will include:·a school meals information pack for parents of primary school aged children·a range of promotional materials for pupils·new menus written in line with the Scottish Executive Nutritional guidelines.·school menus advertised in the local press and on the Council's website
Bruce Geary, Cleaning and Catering Services Manager said: "We have for some time offered curries, pastas, pizza - all the things that children love. But what we have found is that not all parents know what other food items are on the menu, which is why we are carrying out this new campaign. Parents have a huge influence over what their children eat."
Bruce also revealed that the uptake of free school meals stands at only 70% - despite research which shows children who take a hot meal at lunchtime are likely to perform better in class.
He added: "It means that parents are spending thousands of pounds unnecessarily each year on food for their children. We will be writing to all the parents to explain the value of school meals and to let them know they are missing out and to tell them about the campaign. Hopefully we will see more pupils eating school meals as a result."
The council's campaign takes forward recommendations contained in a Scottish Executive report Hungry for Success, a national strategy for school meals - and is one of the first Council's to do so.
Bruce Geary said: "As a professional catering organisation we have always made sure that our meals have high nutrient values and that each day there is a good healthy choice of food available in all our schools.
"We hope the new campaign will go some way to raising awareness among parents that school meals are the best option at lunchtime. We also want to make school meals a more enjoyable experience for pupils - especially the youngest children. The new monster themed menus and publicity materials will certainly make eating at school more exciting."
In Clackmannanshire 4,500 children attend local primary schools. At present approximately 2,160 children take a school meal - a 48% uptake.