Revamp of free school meals programme to include cold lunch option

A nutritional study carried out as part of the work found that a wide variety of foods are offered under the scheme and 82% of meals analysed did not contain foods considered high in fat, salt of sugar. File picture: Dan Linehan

A cold lunch option will be included on a standardised menu offered to children as part of an overhaul of the free school meals programme.

Portion size was among the issues highlighted by many of the 86,637 parents across 747 schools, who took part in a survey of the hot school meals programme, which will now be addressed.

Changes to the scheme will see different portion size meals offered to children based on their age. Social protection minister Dara Calleary said the changes will ensure meals have a high nutritional value and that food waste is limited.

A nutritional study carried out as part of the work found that a wide variety of foods are offered under the scheme and 82% of meals analysed did not contain foods considered high in fat, salt of sugar.

However, the analysis found that children are more likely to opt for meals that are higher in fat, salt and sugar over healthier meals when they are on the menu. Robust compliance audits of nutrition standards will now be developed to address this.

Mr Calleary said a department of health dietician will be retained to help with the development of a three-week standardised menu for pupils that will include a review of recipes to ensure all meals are healthy.

Under the changes, adaptions will be made for special schools and those with particular dietary requirements. However, the issue of packaging waste and single use items, such as cutlery, has not been looked at as part of this review.

"At the moment, my focus was with a dietician, through nutrition, through ensuring that we have the healthiest possible options available, and then in terms of the feedback from parents, the feedback from children in particular, and school communities. But I know certainly other colleagues and cabinet have mentioned the packaging issue," Mr Calleary said.

The minister also ruled out an immediate extension of lunch breaks to allow children time to eat the meals given to them, stating that this would be a matter for the Department of Education.

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The review found that the average proportion of uneaten meals was 18.9% across all classes, with less waste seen in younger age groups. But when absenteeism was taken into account, the level of uneaten meals fell to 11.1%.

On the amount of food waste, Mr Calleary said work needs to be carried out to ensure meals are not sent out when children do not attend school, adding: "We're going to be working hard with the producers and the student communities to reduce that to a minimum level as possible.

"We have to use this programme, this investment for the highest possible quality of food and most nutritious of food, and within the school meal, we're aiming for high nutrition, high-quality food and food that is healthy."

The hot school meals scheme was introduced in 2019 as a pilot across 37 Deis primary schools. It has since expanded to provide hot meals to around 550,000 children in 3,200 schools. The wider school meals programme caters to more than 680,000 children.

While he acknowledged there is "work to do", Dara Calleary said the survey shows that overall the scheme is popular and broadly successful.

"The State invests €300m each year in the school meals programme, It saves a family with two children in primary school around €1,152 per year," Mr Calleary said.

• Elaine Loughlin, political editor