Lumpy gravy, soggy chips and mashed potato made from powder, yes I am talking about school dinners of course!
Well, that’s my memory of school dinners anyway, but of course these days it’s a very different story.
Firstly Jamie Oliver started his campaign, quite rightly, to try to improve the food served up in school canteens. Then, the issue took on a life of its own, with school dinners now being monitored much more closely for quality and nutritional value.
This week, however, school dinners took on a whole new meaning again at one school in South Manchester.
The BBC reported how comprehensive school Loreto High, in Chorlton, has hired two top chefs to serve up a wide variety of culinary experiences to the pupils, including pulled pork, kale, lamb shish kebabs, paella and jerk fish.
The chefs say the schoolchildren were slightly wary at first, but a little bit of gentle encouragement has resulted in them trying all sorts of new food.
Surprisingly, the children have reported enjoying the new tastes, saying things like: “it is a pleasant surprise every day” and “I used to take packed lunch but now I want to be going on school dinners every day”.
According to the school, this new menu is not costing any more money, just using a bit of extra knowledge and imagination and some clever shopping.
Wow, how times have changed. Did you know children don’t even have to have dinner money any more either – it’s all done by a fingerprinting system (of course the parents have to top the account up!)
I can’t believe I’m sitting here looking at my boring cheese sandwich and wishing I was back at school!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02860f5