CAPTAIN Jack, Swansea Council’s school meals cheerleader, is hoping families will chuck their lunch boxes overboard this summer and switch to school meals for the next school year.
The Council’s school meals mascot is hoping to welcome more pupils than ever as part of his healthy eating crew in September so mums, dads and carers need not worry about buying new lunch boxes or how to fill them every day with a good meal.
A fresh menu has already been drawn up to once again cleverly balance healthy eating and nutritional need while ensuring dishes are tempting enough to help even the fussiest of eaters tuck in.
All this has been done while keeping price increases to a minimum despite the rising costs of food.
From September meals will be charged at a value for money £2.20 per day including a main course, vegetables, dessert and drink. A salad bar and bread basket is also available within the price.
Cllr Jen Raynor, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Research has shown that a good, healthy meal at lunchtime can help improve pupils’ attention and response during afternoon lessons.
“Parents also have the reassurance their child is getting a tasty and nutritionally balanced meal each day at school. It can help start healthy eating habits young and develop their confidence to make good choices within their meal.
“I hope that families will seriously consider school meals as an option from September so their child does not miss out.”
Swansea school meals are prepared fresh daily and all meals have been officially recognised for complying with the Welsh Government Nutritional Standards.
Vegetables and salads are offered to every pupil, every day and over 80% of the vegetables, salad and fruit are sourced from the UK.
The service dishes up 8,400 primary school meals daily including vegetarian and Halal options, as well as special diets with a GP referral.
Parents and carers are also being offered information on eligibility for free school meals and how to make a claim for pupils new to the service from September.
Parents fill out a form just once to claim a free school meal. Details on everything you need to know and an online application form are available at http://www.swansea.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
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