The chips are down as school dinners become more healthy.

The government is cracking down on fatty foods in schools by allowing pupils just two portions each week, while milk will be re-introduced during the school day.

The move has been welcomed in Kirklees.

The new standards include:

One or more portions of vegetables or salad as an accompaniment every day

At least three different fruits and three different vegetables each week

An emphasis on wholegrain foods in place of refined carbohydrates

Making water the drink of choice and limiting fruit juice portions to 150mls

No more than two portions a week of food that has been deep-fried, batter-coated, or breadcrumb-coated.

No more than two portions of food which include pastry each week. 

Clr Shabir Pandor, Kirklees Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Schools), welcomed the chances on behalf of Kirklees School Catering Service, saying: “Since the launch of the Nutritional Standards back in 2008 the Service has worked to both the food-based standards and the nutritional standards.

“The new revised standards give us the flexibility and guidance to work with schools and partners such as the Food for Life Partnership to provide healthy, nutritious balanced meals which can be more tailored to the needs of individual schools.

“Kirklees School Catering Service holds the Food for Life silver catering mark award which means we follow strict guidance on providing sustainable and ethical meals, using fresh, seasonal and local produce.

“We pride ourselves on this and we know that our highly trained school cooks will be delighted with the increased freedom and flexibility the revised standards affords them.

“Although we have the silver standard we would want to aspire and work towards attaining the gold standard.” 

The new standards will be mandatory in all maintained schools, new academies and free schools and school cooks will be given more flexibility over school dinners.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “These new food standards will ensure all children are able to eat healthy, nutritious meals at school.”

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