FISH and chips will be banned and canteens will introduce “pulse day” as part of a major new shake-up to school dinner rules.
The new rules hope to tackle the rising rates of childhood obesity and tooth decay across schools in England.
School dinner menus are set to see the biggest shake-up in over a decade as the Government announces new rules to encourage healthy eating.
The “once-in-a-generation changes”, according to Education Secretary Lucy Powell, hopes to improve nutrition in schools, as well as support children’s concentration and learning.
The 15 new rules governing school dinners have been encouraged as thousands more pupils become eligible for free school meals, with all children from families on universal credit now covered.
Coming into effect next September, with secondary schools given until September 2028 to make the changes, all schools will also be required publish their menus and food policies online.
Read more News
CHIP AWAY
Fish & chips and Coco Pops to be BANNED from schools with lentils made compulsory
MEGA MONEY
US Powerball jackpot reaches £128million —I found a hack to play 10 lines for £1
Deep-fried food will be banned
Traditional fish and chips makes up one of the school meals that will be majorly altered with the new rules introducing a blanket ban on deep-fried food.
Starchy foods cooked in fat or oil will continue to be limited to just twice a week, with only baked chips allowed to be served.
Desserts and cakes restricted to twice a week in secondary schools
Secondary school pupils will now only be served sweetened desserts, such as apple crumble, a maximum of twice a week.
Schools will also be required to offer these desserts with a portion of fresh fruit, such as serving apple crumble with a side of blueberries.
Most read in The Sun
‘DISGUSTING’
Schoolgirl, 17, missing for 263 days is found at home of shamed teacher
FREAK ACCIDENT
Boy, 11, killed after go-kart overturns into pond and traps him underwater
GHOST RIDERS
I went inside Britain’s ‘ghost plate’ epidemic – and bought a fake reg for £40
SWAMP HORROR
Moment dad drops baby & toddler in swamp while fleeing cops after crashing car
Desserts and cakes restricted to once a week in primary schools
Sweetened desserts will only be served once a week for primary school pupils as part of the new rule.
Chocolate and sweets are still banned from desserts and cakes, with cheese, crackers and grapes, fruit like watermelon and orange slices and custard with banana all suggested as healthier dessert options.
Pulses and lentils will be served at least once a week
Schools will now have to schedule “pulse day” into their dinner menu, with lentils and chickpeas required once a week.
The Department for Education has encouraged schools to try out a number of new meals, including chicken and lentil curry with rice, peas and naan bread.
One pasta dish per week must contain at least 50 per cent or more wholewheat pasta
Pasta dishes must contain at least 50 per cent or more wholewheat ingredients every week.
Previously, schools were only required to serve one wholegrain dish each week.
At least one portion of fruit or vegetables must be served with every dish
Every dish served in school canteens must include one or more portions of fruit or vegetables, such as salads.
This comes as a major overhaul of previous rules, which only required one or more portions of fruit and vegetables daily, and three different fruit and vegetables on offer every week.
Pastries will be banned from school breakfasts
Ending years of unrestricted breakfast menus, new food guidelines will ban a number of high sugar items in schools.
This includes pastries, which will not be served at all for breakfast.
Fried eggs will be banned from school breakfasts
Similarly to pastries, breakfast favourites including fried eggs will be eliminated from school kitchens.
The changes to all breakfast items come as thousands more children become eligible for free school meals this year.
Cereal sugar content will be restricted, including no Coco Pops
Unhealthy cereals with high sugar contents will now be restricted in all breakfast clubs.
The government has specifically confirmed that Coco Pops would no longer be an option on school menus.
10g portions to be served for reduced salt and sugar condiments, such as ketchup
Reduced salt and sugar condiments, such as ketchup, must now be served and limited to 10g portions.
Previously, condiments were not required to contain reduced sugar and salt levels, but ketchup sachets could be only 10g.
Chocolate spread will be banned
As an extension on the restrictions for condiments, chocolate spread will not be allowed.
This rule will be in place for both regular school dinners, as well as breakfast club meals.
Sugary foods and drinks will be restricted
Ice cream, waffles and fizzy drinks are amongst the sugary foods and drinks that will be restricted under the new rules.
The decision hopes to curb the growing rate of tooth decay, which is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine.
Foods with high fat and salt content will be restricted
Similar to sugary foods and drinks, popular dishes that contain high fat and salt content will be restricted.
These include meals involving pizza and sausages, which will be rejected in favour of fibrous wholegrain items.
Processed sausages, chicken nuggets and ham will only be served once a week
A number of popular processed meats, including sausages, chicken nuggets and ham, will be heavily restricted.
Now, the dishes can only be served once a week, and must be accompanied by a portion of fruit or vegetables.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Higher fibre bread required
Any bread offered in schools must have a higher fibre content, majorly changing previous rules that permitted all bread.
Fibre content in bread must be made up of at least 4g/100g of fibre, and be made with a minimum quantity of 50 per cent wholemeal flour.
Full list of 15 NEW rules as part of major school dinner reforms
- Deep-fried food will be banned
- Desserts and cakes restricted to twice a week in secondary schools
- Desserts and cakes restricted to once a week in primary schools
- Pulses and lentils will be served at least once a week
- One pasta dish per week must contain at least 50 per cent or more wholewheat pasta
- At least one portion of fruit or vegetables must be served with every dish
- Pastries will be banned from school breakfasts
- Fried eggs will be banned from school breakfasts
- Cereal sugar content will be restricted, including no Coco Pops
- 10g portions to be served for reduced salt and sugar condiments, such as ketchup
- Chocolate spread will be banned
- Sugary foods and drinks will be restricted
- Foods with high fat and salt content will be restricted
- Processed sausages, chicken nuggets and ham will only be served once a week
- Higher-fibre bread required