Kids shun healthy meals

Hull City Council's attempt to offer primary school children healthier school meals has backfired because of opposition from kids.

A council spokeswoman said provisional figures showed that up to 25% fewer pupils were eating meals in some schools, following the introduction of new healthy menus four weeks ago.

She said it was working hard on turning around the decline in the city's 79 primary and nursery schools. Its caterers were developing new menus, and renaming some dishes, such as carrot cake, to make them more acceptable to children. "There's an educational aspect here, and if children haven't heard of carrot cake before then this might cause a problem," she said.

"Hopefully, the figures will improve over time. Any change can meet resistance - it's a shame, because a lot of work has gone into the menus." She added that the council's aim was to tackle obesity and improve the grades and attendance of children throughout the city.

Hull will begin offering free school meals in eight primary schools as part of its healthy eating package next Monday (19 April). The schools will have a breakfast club, a main lunchtime meal and fresh fruit and refreshments at the after-school club, if it has one. Seven more schools will join the pilot scheme in June.