Children Warm To School Meals In Oxfordshire (Status: Press Release)

MORE children are opting for school dinners rather than eating packed lunches in Oxfordshire.
Food With Thought, Oxfordshire County Council?s school meals provider, has announced a 5.6% increase in school meal numbers since the start of the school year, which is says means it is on track to achieve its target of a 5% increase for 2007-2008.

Colin Garnham-Edge, General Manager of Food With Thought, said: ?The increase is an indicator that times are changing, starting with our meals and menus, which now contain more locally sourced produce and meat than before, and most of which are cooked on-site each day using fresh ingredients.
?But we’re also seeing a change in attitudes to school lunches, with many schools and parents contacting us with positive feedback and becoming more involved with the menus and meal service.
?The increase is very encouraging. Our aim for the next months is to continue working with schools, parents and pupils to find out more about likes and dislikes, and where we should focus our attention next. We think we know where we can improve further -but we are going to ask as many questions as we can to ensure that we do.?

The news comes as increasing prices of produce and meat put further pressure on the service.
?Prices of fresh ingredients are increasing by 10-12% which is a challenge we can do without,? said Mr Garnham-Edge. ?However, we are not planning to pass the cost on to the pupils, and the cost of a school meal remains unchanged at