Healthy, Sustainable and Affordable School Meals
Forest Green Kitchen offers plant-based catering options in compostable packaging (with no palm oil) that is both delicious and nutritious. Also read our post on the best zero waste reusable lunch boxes.
Made in Gloucestershire, the food is free from all major food allergens (and soy) and sold in compostable and recyclable packs. And contains no air-freighted ingredients. Offerings are all high in protein and include:
- Shiitake mushroom burgers
- Jamaican jerk burgers
- Spicy vegan balls
It’s far simpler to just offer good tasty plant-based food for everyone, as it covers all the bases, without having to cook different food for different people:
- It’s suitable for vegans and vegetarians
- It’s good to avoid egg/milk allergies
- Respects religious beliefs (Jews and Muslims can eat most vegan food)
- It’s cholesterol-free and animal-kind
- It’s good for the planet
- It’s often cheaper than free-range meats and dairy
Read info by dietitians on food allergens (they say the top 8 allergens of milk, eggs, soy, shellfish, fish, peanuts, tree nuts and wheat account for around 90% of all allergens, the others being mustard or sesame seeds).
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets (many foods are unsafe near animal friends). Bin allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives) and citrus/tomato/rhubarb scraps, as acids could harm compost creatures. It’s okay to put them in food waste bins (made into biogas).
Before recycling cans, rinse then remove lids (pop ring-pulls over holes). Then use your fingers/thumb to ‘pinch’ inner rims together, to avoid wildlife getting trapped.
Choking hazards to avoid
Choking hazards should be avoided for children and people with swallowing difficulties (and allergies). Also keep small toys off the kitchen floor where toddlers and pets could find them.
Learn how to help someone who is choking. Foods to avoid include:
- Nuts, Seeds & Nut/Seed Butters (avoid for under 5)
- Chia seeds (soak in liquid first, if used)
- Dry Bread, Crackers & Croutons
- Crumbly Foods (pies & biscuits)
- Peas, Grapes, Cherry Tomatoes, Cherries (even sliced)
- Carrot Sticks
- Sausages (slice lengthwise & again, for older children)
- Foods with Seeds (raspberries etc)
- Boiled Sweets
- Sticky Foods (some cheese, marshmallow, mochi)
- Tough Foods (steak, bacon, skin/bone/gristle)
- Stringy Foods ((beans, rhubarb)
- Floppy Foods (lettuce, cucumber, spinach)
- Chia seeds (mix with water first, if using for others)
Are school dinners any better these days?
The average UK school dinner costs around £2 to £3, and must adhere to strict nutritional standards, ensuring fresh fruits and vegetables, and all the major nutrients.
If you are on a low income, you can apply for free school meals.
Water and/or milk must be available at every meal. Some parents vegan children (and those with allergies or religious beliefs) want NHS Healthy Start Vouchers (for low incomes) to offer dairy-free milk and vegan vitamin D supplements (as well as fresh produce), as many African-American children are lactose-intolerant.
Free breakfasts for children on low incomes
Schools can apply to Magic Breakfast Club, which has been serving free school breakfasts for over 20 years. These are pretty healthy and tend to be made with easy-to-store and freeze ingredients like cereals, porridge, bagels and baked beans, along with fresh juice. All menus comply with school nutrition standards.
