Blackpool Council trials new wholefood options in schools

Pupils across Blackpool have been sampling meals containing more whole foods such as seeds, pulses and beans, as the council prepares for the anticipated changes to government school food standards.  

As part of the initiative, pupils in Years 1 and 4 from St John’s CE Primary School were invited to try a range of new dishes, including a vegan curry and lentil bake, before providing feedback on the recipes.  

The council have been working with government advisors and local professional chefs to prepare for proposed changes and develop new meal options that meet future nutritional requirements while appealing to pupils. 

The tasting event was led by local chef Seema Dalvi, who worked with Blackpool Catering Service’s team at its Highfield Road development kitchen to create two dishes to showcase the potential for future school meals: a chickpea and sweet potato curry, and a chicken, red lentil and spinach pasta bake. 

Blackpool Catering Service is recognised nationally for its work creating healthy meals for schoolchildren. The service already prepares all its sauces from scratch and offers fruit and salad bars in schools. It supplies meals to 28 primary and secondary schools across the town, serving around 135,000 meals each month during the last school year.