Resources and useful websites
Resources and useful websites
A wealth of information has been developed to support schools and parents with improving and understanding their diet.
The Food Standards Agency, Trading Standards and School Food Trust have excellent resources that are available for downloading.
The School Food Trust was established by the Department for Education and Skills in September 2005. Its remit is to transform school food and food skills, promote the education and health of children and young people and improve the quality of food in schools.
School Food Trust
Find nutritional food standards and guidelines, resources, frequently asked questions and the latest news articles about school meal improvements. www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
Guide to the food-based standards - The School Food Trust published this guide to the food standards for school lunches in June 2006. It details each of the eleven standards and provides menu ideas and advice on how to implement each one. The guidance was revised in April 2007. www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/UploadDocs/Library/Documents/School-food-trust.pdf
Food Standards Agency
Useful resources on food hygiene and nutrition - www.food.gov.uk
Food Policy in Schools – a strategic policy framework for governing bodies. - www.food.gov.uk/multmedia/pdfs/foodpolicygovernor.pdf
School-based activities - aimed at supporting pupils, parents, teachers and others who can influence the food children and young people eat. these are summarised in a booklet of school-based food initiatives - www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/bookmarknut.pdf
School lunchbox surveys – two month’s worth of practical healthier lunch box suggestions are available on the Agency website to promote healthier choices -www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2004/sep/lunchbox2
Vending healthy drinks - a guide for schools - provides guidance on setting up healthier drinks vending - www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/vendingmachinebooklet.pdf
Trading Standards
Go to their website and download the latest newsletter which contains analysis and information on diet.
Food in schools toolkit
The interactive Food in Schools Toolkit - provides guidance, resources and interactive tools to inspire and support you in taking a whole school approach to healthy eating and drinking. It covers healthier breakfast clubs, healthier cookery clubs, healthier lunch boxes, growing clubs, dining room environment, water provision, healthier tuck shops and healthy vending machines and is available free of charge from Prolog by quoting 267050 (email: dh@prolog.uk.com or call 08701 555 455)
Healthy School Meals Guidance for School Caterers which complements the current nutritional standards, but which provide good practice examples about offering variety and foods that provide healthy balanced options - www.dfes.gov.uk/schoollunches
Grow your own grub
The Grow Your Own Grub website is a free resource designed to introduce schools to running a simple, affordable food-growing project.
The website provides a comprehensive guide to growing four different vegetables with a class of children during the summer term. The site provides staff with practical information, comprehensive lesson plans, learning resources and fun activities for pupils. The project is designed to promote healthy eating, improve access to affordable fresh food and raise children's knowledge of food-related environmental issues - www.growinggrub.co.uk
Garden organics for schools
Promotes fruit and vegetable gardens and Curriculum links - www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools_organic_network/map/schools.php
Jacket potato bar
How to set up a healthy alternative to hot dogs. The British Potato Council provides a useful resource and free posters and states - 'Having potatoes on the menu can help you achieve school meal guidelines. They are naturally low in fat, provide fibre, vitamin C and folate, as well as being low in sodium (salt). They are versatile enough to be enjoyed in the diet in many ways and compliment lots of different foods - http://www.potatoesforcaterers.co.uk/
Cookery club
Advice, support and funding on how to set up a school cookery club - www.letsgetcooking.org.uk/client/index.aspx
Chefs adopt a school
Academy of Culinary Arts has established a network with renowned chefs who set up links with a school and volunteer to work in partnership to promote cooking -
Teachernet
Healthy Living Blueprint Website has numerous healthy food/drink sites -
5 a day resources
Resources that can be ordered through the new 5 a Day website - www.5ADAY.nhs.uk including posters, postcards and brochures.
Ashlyns Organics
Providing organic and local food to the public section. Purpose built training facilities to enhance skills in a kitchen - www.ashlynsorganics.co.uk
Soil Association
Charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health - www.soilassociation.org
Wired for health
Advice and tips on a healthy diet, health issues, food safety and interactive games for children - www.eatwell.gov.uk
Websites aimed at cooking with children
Recipes that are simple to prepare and popular with children.
www.kidchef.com - American cup measurements but recipes suitable for older children and teenagers.
Books for carers to read with children