Pupils ditch school menus

New figures show that secondary pupils are continuing to turn their noses up at school meals, preferring instead to venture to local takeaways.

Schools bosses are desperately trying to increase uptake by making dining halls more attractive to teenagers and creating themed lunches through hosting events such as Harry Potter or Italian days.

They are also investigating the possibility of providing healthy "takeaway options".

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But the new figures which form part of the annual school meals census data reveal that uptake of meals in Capital secondary schools has dropped from 23 per cent in 2009 to 19 per cent this year.

That is being put down to Scottish Government legislation, which, for the first time, introduced set meals in secondary schools from last August.

Despite the new attempt to increase healthy options by limiting the amount of times fried foods can be offered and banning the sale of sweets and chocolate in canteens, some parents say they would still never use school meals.

Liz Carrie, who sits on the parent council of Balerno High, said: "I don't think they're healthy and I don't think they are good value. Fresh fruit is too expensive and from my point of view, they would have to completely ban all kinds of potato products such as chips.

"At Balerno, we also have particular problems with school meals because our dining room is too small.

"Until we can keep kids in all lunchtime, I don't think you are ever going to win in a secondary school environment."

A report by education director Gillian Tee and Jim Inch, director of corporate services, says the new legislation restricted the sale of "many of the most popular foods" in the school canteen.

The directors added that the school and welfare catering service is nearly 30 per cent below targeted income in secondary schools for this year.

Council bosses are looking at various ways to improve sales, including working with schools and pupils to find out what items they would like to see in canteens and targeting schools with particularly low uptake.

They are also looking to extend an initiative that has been successfully trailed in Currie High, Balerno High and Trinity Academy which has seen dining areas become "more welcoming", new menu choices and competitions for pupils.

School meal uptake in primaries is, however, continuing to increase. The census date - which is undertaken one day each year - reveals that uptake rose slightly from 39 per cent to just over 40 per cent.

A spokeswoman for the council pointed out that across all city schools, school meal uptake was on the rise.

She said: "Although the annual census showed a decrease in the uptake of school meals, this was just a snapshot of the situation taken in one day."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is aiming to bring about a change in the way our children and young people make choices about food."

Sample secondary school menu:

STARTER:

Lentil and carrot soup

MAIN COURSE

Chicken jalfrezi served on a bed of rice with vegetables

Quorn hot dog in a finger roll

DESSERT

Selection of fresh/dried fruit

Yoghurt

Lemon drizzle cake

Custard

Home baking