As National School Meals Week 2024 approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the vital role school meals play in our children’s health and education. This annual event not only celebrates the importance of nutritious meals but also highlights the commitment of schools, parents, and communities to ensure that every child has access to healthy food.
In this blog, we’ll explore six essential themes to embrace during this week, from promoting healthy eating habits to fostering community engagement.
Join us as we delve into how we can collectively generate excitement and elevate school meals for our students, ensuring they thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
Launch day
Kick National School Meals Week 2024 off with a fun day with your pupil’s favourites and get everyone in the mood for the delicious week to come! What better way to begin than to cook up some delicious (and school compliant!) recipes that rival the high street competition.
Check out our Pizza & Sides guide for some tasty inspiration including hidden protein bases.
For example, our mock duck with hoisin sauce pizza is an exciting twist on a classic:
Mock duck with hoisin sauce
| Ingredients | Method |
| 600g vegetarian mock duck (37008) | Shred the mock duck into small pieces and sprinkle over the pizza. |
| 50g red chillis (75305) | Finely slice the red chilli and spring onion. |
| 35g spring onion (75634) | Once the pizza is cooked, sprinkle the chilli and spring onion over the top. |
| 75g hoisin sauce (05557) | Finally, drizzle over the hoisin sauce before serving. |
Or take a look at our Asian Fusion guide for tasty katsu curries and ramen bowls.
“We wanted to help create a menu that offered minimal ingredients with maximum flavour. We hope each one of these recipes can help inspire your offering and make your life easier when creating a concept for your students to enjoy. My favourite is the chicken donburi!”
Adam DennyCulinary Support Chef, Education & Health Care
A great tip from Greg Newcombe, our National Account Manager for education is:
“Make it a celebratory event by incorporating themed days, taste tests, and interactive activities. By creating a fun and engaging environment, schools can highlight the importance of nutritious meals while making it an enjoyable experience for students.”
Greg NewcombeNational Account Manager – Education
Superhero lunch
This theme is all about encouraging children into the dining room by being a superhero for the day. We know school lunches give children the power to get through lessons. We understand how important it is to provide students’ Fuel for School.
Check out our latest Bidfood Kitchen episode where Nutrition Manager Heather Dolan and Chef Stuart take you through some recipes to fuel children through the school day:
Chef Wayne says:
“Ensuring that children are receiving the right food is so important for their learning. For some children, school lunches are their only hot meal of the day, so it is so important for us to make sure that we make it count!”
Wayne WrightCulinary Development Chef, Education & Health Care
Build a burger competition day
Who doesn’t love a good burger? Today’s the day to get creative with your lunch.
Instead of a classic beef burger, how about opting for a more sustainable alternative such as our homemade falafel burger from our 3 week menu cycle.
Burgers don’t have to be boring! Easily switch up flavours by offering a range of sauces and condiments to make the burger customisable. Think relishes, crispy onions, pickles, and flavoured mayonnaise…
The Feel Good Great British Lunch
LACA have challenged school caterers to put on a Feel Good Great British Lunch day. A firm favourite amongst students, this is a great chance to serve up British classics such as roast dinners! If you’re looking to put a twist on this theme, check out some of our other Great British Lunch recipes, here.
Top tip: Decorate your canteen with British flags to up the excitement. You could even get the students to paint the flags leading up to the event and use these for the decoration.
Chef Adam says that:
“Classic British lunches never go amiss, so today is the time to bring all the classics students know and love. A top tip from me, sourcing British ingredients rather than ingredients from overseas also reduces food milage and supports British producers!”
Adam DennyCulinary Support Chef, Education & Health Care
Move it for a better mind!
Being healthy isn’t just about getting the right nutrients and eating wholesome foods. It’s also about getting moving and making sure to exercise your body. Why not combine both and host a Sports Day with Sports Day themed foods to pair?
Greg, National Account Manager for education says:
“A good tip for school children is to make movement fun and part of their everyday routine, for example, taking a break from homework to move. A great way to promote healthy habits is by turning it into a challenge—such as setting a daily step goal or having movement minutes where they see how many different exercises they can do in a short amount of time.”
Greg NewcombeNational Account Manager – Education
Find inspiration in our theme guide here.
Be kind day
And finally, end the week with a big celebration and encouraging small acts of kindness. Being kind isn’t just about being kind to each other, but it’s also about being kind to ourselves.
Take a read of our 5 healthy eating principles you should never underestimate blog to find out what habits you should encourage your students to follow.
Our Nutrition Manager Heather Dolan says:
“It is important to encourage healthy habits from an early age. If students are encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits at school, they are more likely to make these healthy habits last a lifetime. I hope you enjoy reading about healthy eating principles!”
Heather DolanNutrition Manager
As National School Meals Week unfolds, let’s come together to celebrate and enhance the role of school meals in our children’s lives. From the excitement of themed lunch days to engaging activities that promote health and well-being, every initiative contributes to fostering a positive dining experience. By embracing these essential themes, we not only nourish our students but also empower them to thrive academically and socially.
As you embark on this week of celebration, remember that the impact of nutritious meals goes far beyond the lunch tray. It’s about creating a culture of health, kindness, and community spirit. Together, we can make this week memorable and meaningful for every child, ensuring they have the fuel to succeed.
Let’s make National School Meals Week a fantastic opportunity to inspire, engage, and nourish our future leaders!
Don’t forget to explore the wide range of resources LACA have created for you to use in your schools.
And if you’re looking for more support for your schools, check out our education support page: School food suppliers – catering for schools across the UK.
