Children to get healthier meals in Northern schools

Pupils at over 100 Northern Ireland schools are to get healthier school meals.

The department of education's permanent secretary Gerry McGinn said schoolchildren would be offered nutritionally balanced meals every day.

He said: “Encouraging healthy eating habits among children and young people contributes to healthy growth and development in the short term and is an investment in their health for the future.

“Schools can make a very significant contribution to improving children’s and young people’s health.

“In recognition of the important role of school meals, I am delighted to launch this pilot scheme which introduces compulsory nutritional standards for school meals to the schools taking part.”

Catering staff at schools are to receive additional training to help them offer a more balanced diet to pupils.

Standards will also be tailored to each individual school’s needs, with the department of education and the British Health Promotion Agency jointly evaluating the scheme throughout the pilot period.

Mr McGinn said today specific foods would not be banned during the pilot scheme but would instead recognise “there are no healthy or unhealthy foods, only unhealthy diets.

“I want to see children enjoy their lunches and to ensure that there are more healthy options available.”

Sinn Féin education spokesman Davy Hyland welcomed the move.

“This is an important step in ensuring that our young people have healthy eating options on the school menu,” the Newry and Armagh MLA said.

“It is also an important step in developing healthier diets and lifestyles.

“It is now a number of years since the ‘Investing in Health’ strategy was launched and we need to see further expansion of this scheme without delay.

“This needs to be supported with greater support for sport and physical activity within our schools.