School Meals & Packed Lunches
Sending your child to school every day, knowing that they get a good , healthy meal inside them, is one of the great things that parents can do. We have a kitchen on site and school dinners are cooked freshly each day. We also offer a salad and fruit bar for pupils each day.
Signing your child up for school meals is easy: just speak to one of our office staff who will do the work for you. If you want to try one of our meals for yourself before you make your decision, we have parent lunches throughout the term.
Below are our school menus. I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s brimming with choice and will certainly get the taste buds tingling!
Packed Lunches – Do’s
- Get the kids involved – learning about food and nutrition are important life skills and should be encouraged from an early age. Children are more likely to be interested in their lunches if they have helped to choose and prepare them. Don’t be afraid to let them experiment!
- Try new foods – trying new foods from an early age plays a huge role in a child’s willingness and acceptance of different foods. Children’s food preferences evolve as their palates mature, so continuously encouraging them to try new and different foods is a crucial step in their development of good eating habits.
- Shake things up – variety is key, not only does variation in the diet provide nutritional benefits, but reduces boredom and lack of interest in food. This is particularly important for children and teenagers, as they can be prone to becoming fussy eaters.
- Tailor lunches to the time of year – for example, a flask of soup with brown bread during the cold, winter months or pasta salad during spring and summer.
- Make it look appetising – it is worth spending that extra few minutes on presentation, especially for younger children. Aim for a variety of shapes, colours and textures in the lunchbox. The more pleasing a packed lunch looks; the more likely kids are to eat and enjoy it. It may be worth investing in colourful, easy-open Tupperware, lunchboxes and thermos flasks to liven up the school lunchtime.
- Be prepared and organised – preparation in advance will not only save you time, but will reduce the chances of opting for last minute ready-made lunches or convenience foods which can be high in sugar, fat and salt.
Packed Lunches – Don’ts
- Don’t leave it to the last minute – lack of time may increase the chance of filling lunchboxes with unhealthy, convenience foods.
- Don’t repeat the same lunches over and over – while it’s a good idea to establish a number of reliable lunches that work, try not to overdo it. Mixing it up will increase the variety of nutrients provided.
- Don’t forget about portion size – this should be specifically tailored to your child/teens age, size and activity levels. Younger children will generally need smaller portions than older or more active children.
- Don’t forget about hydration – research suggests dehydration can lead to reduced concentration and performance in children. Water and milk are two excellent tooth-friendly choices; try to avoid sugary drinks.
- Don’t forget about breakfast – it’s no myth that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’. Break the overnight fast and set the school goers up with a bowl of milky porridge or mixed berries with yogurt and granola. It can be a long wait until small break, so opt for a breakfast that will fill and fuel!
Lunchbox ideas
Sandwich fillers:
– Avocado, crunchy peppers and cheddar
– Tuna and sweetcorn, spinach leaves and mayonnaise
– Chicken, mixed salad and tomato relish
– Turkey, grated cheddar and tomato
Sandwich alternatives:
– Pesto pasta salad with chicken and peppers
– Mild spiced couscous with roasted veg and chickpeas
– Brown rice salad with sliced hardboiled egg, avocado and spring onion
– Homemade soup and brown bread
Snacks:
– Carrot and red pepper sticks with hummus
– Cubed cheddar cheese with grapes
– Fruit salad with yogurt and seeds
– Fresh fruit smoothie made with milk or yogurt
Alternative Sweet Treats:
– Homemade flapjacks
– Homemade banana bread
– Mixed unsalted nuts
– Mini box of raisins
– 2-3 dried apricots
Allergens Information
Please read the important information below which has been published from the Department for Education. If you wish to speak to the School Cook about any allergies that your child may have, please ring or call in to the school office and we will be able to help.
food standard agency allergen-information
Applying For Free School Meals
Please keep in mind that there is support to help your child in school, access to clubs and your child would have free school meals from Year 3 to Year 6. This additional funding is invaluable to help the children as well as supporting our families.
If your joint family income is less than 16,190 and you are in receipt of one of the below benefits you may be eligible:
– income support
– income based Jobseekers Allowance
– support from National Asylum Support Service
– the guarantee element of State Pension Credit
– Child Tax Credit (with no working tax credit) with an annual income of no more than 16,190
– Working Tax Credit run-on
– Universal Credit
Please ask for a free school meals and pupil premium from via the school office, download the form below OR apply online via the East Riding website.
https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/learning/schools-colleges-and-academies/school-meals/free-school-meals/
If you receive a notification that you are eligible after applying, please let the school office know promptly.