Photo: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has criticised Jamie Oliver’s school lunches campaign, saying that  it hasn’t been effective. Over the past few years, Jamie Oliver’s fans have watched him campaigning vigorously for healthier school menu options in Britain, and what he’s had to say about what kids are eating has certainly seemed to make a lot of sense, but Lansley sees things differently.

Food fight

So, what was Lansley on about? It seems that the Health Secretary has blamed Oliver for a chain of events that goes something like this: less children sign up for school lunches, so schools dictate what can be brought to school in a packed lunch, causing parents to give their children money to buy lunch instead of packing it for them, but the kids spend their money on something other than food.

Inaccurate

Photo: The Health Hotel / Wikimedia Commons

Jamie Oliver has pointed out that the basis of Lansley’s statement is incorrect: since the introduction of the school menu, enrollment for school dinners has actually increased. Oliver went on to call the comments ‘an insult to the hard work of hundreds of thousands of dinner ladies, teachers, head-teachers and parent helpers who strive to feed school kids a nutritious, hot meal for 190 days of the year.’

What’s on your school menu?

If you’re not satisfied with the quality of the food that your child’s school serves, a healthy packed lunch is probably your best option. Try to avoid the scenario that Andrew Lansley outlined: don’t give your children money to buy their own lunch, as takeaway options are tempting, and food cooked at home is almost always more nutritious. Find out more about how to prepare a healthy school lunch and give your child something to eat that’s nutritious but also easy to enjoy.

Tags: healthy lunch, jamie oliver