Council's school food health drive
Warrington School Meals Catering Service (WSMCS) is spearheading a new scheme to steer Cheshire schoolchildren towards healthier eating.
WSMCS, which caters for all 74 primary schools and four of the high schools in the borough, will be working with other council experts from support services, education and NHS primary care trusts to devise healthier dishes.
The aim, said catering services manager Gordon Carson, is to incorporate more healthy and home-made dishes in school menus to try to combat obesity and unhealthy eating.
"We plan to minimise fat, sugar and salt and increase fibre in the meals we produce, thereby kick-starting healthy eating in schools," he explained.
WSMCS aims to introduce the evaluated and endorsed menu options across all its schools by next April.
Recognising that children do prefer processed-type foods, WSMCS is also working with food manufacturers and suppliers to minimise the levels of salt, fat and sugar in these foods.
The initiative will not affect meal budgets or the cost to pupils.