Pupils at Dovecot Primary, Liverpool, were treated to a Full Time Meals takeover last week, which saw a selection of recipes from Tom Kerridge’s Full Time Meals initiative provided for every child in recognition of the ongoing campaign to extend free school meal eligibility.
The activity, which also included interactive food workshops for pupils, championed frontline school caterers and the work they do feeding the nation’s children, as well as driving awareness of the Full Time Meals campaign to #endchildpoverty, signposting parents to where they can access support, if needed.
The takeover saw hundreds of children across the school first treated to an assembly by expert nutritionists from Chartwells, the school’s caterer, teaching them about the importance of healthy eating on the pupils’ mental and physical wellbeing.
The nutritionists led two workshops during the takeover day, providing pupils with information on what fuel the body needs to function, as well as getting ‘hands on’ by making four dips from different countries and cultures across the globe.
An enthusiastic group of pupils from Year 4 got stuck into the activities, with one pupil remarking: “I thought I didn’t like tomatoes, but they are actually really tasty!”
At lunchtime, pupils were given the opportunity to try Mexican style chicken, carrot and courgette spaghetti, and tortilla pizzas, which were cooked up by the school’s catering team using Full Time Meals recipes. The food, which was provided free of charge, went down a storm, with one child saying. “I can’t wait to try these recipes with my mum!”
Tom Kerridge said: “It’s been fantastic to take the Full Time Meals takeover to Liverpool. Food is a powerful tool in bringing people and families together, and this initiative is all about bringing excitement and learning to children across the country.”
“Too often school food gets a bad reputation, but the frontline catering teams I’ve met have been the nation’s unsung heroes who truly care about the children they serve. With the cost-of-living crisis, the school food system is a fantastic way to feed the vulnerable children who are slipping through the cracks. Data shows that 800,000 children living in poverty do not qualify for free school meals, this needs to be addressed with the extension of free school meals provided to every child who is on Universal Credit.”
James Smith, Headteacher at Dovecot Primary School, said: “The Full Time Meals takeover day was a great opportunity for the children to learn about healthy eating and to try new meals and ingredients. The pupils loved taking part in the nutrition workshops and it has been wonderful to see them so engaged and interested in food.
“It was also fantastic to be able to offer every child a free school meal today. Healthy, nutritious food is so important in supporting children’s well-being and education; therefore, this workshop today has been of incredible value.”
Laura Muldoon, School Chef, Dovecot School added: “Seeing children enjoy the food we serve at lunchtime is always incredibly rewarding. I’m passionate about ensuring every child is fed, and I’m incredibly proud to work as a school caterer, so seeing the pupils’ smiling faces during lunch service was the highlight of today.”
For more information about Full Time Meals visit https://tomkerridge.com/full-time-meals/
