School meals in Brighton and Hove are now healthier, tastier and more eco friendly

Freshly baked bread, free range eggs and more locally sourced fruit and vegetables are now on the menu at some 60 primary and special schools in Brighton & Hove.

The council has teamed up with Eden Foodservice to offer healthy and tasty menus to schoolchildren. All menus feature food from different parts of the world, achieve Government nutrition targets and contain at least two portions of the recommended five-a-day for fruit and vegetables.

• Fresh bread is now baked on site daily at all schools – children have been enjoying freshly baked bread including garlic bread, tomato bread, and twin bread. Over the last two weeks this has added up to around 2000 loaves of fresh bread
• Only UK Red Tractor farm assured meat and free range eggs are used – this year the use of free range eggs has increased by 75% as sponges are now made from scratch on site
• Fresh fruit and vegetables are now being delivered twice a week by local company Tastables. In the longer term this should ensure improved access to more seasonal, locally procured items when suitable, available and affordable
• All fish is from sustainable sources and Eden are working towards Marine Stewardship Council accreditation
• Separate menus are available for children who have special dietary needs.

All the dishes on the menus are tried and tested by school pupils to make sure they like them. Parents are also going to be encouraged to try them for themselves through a programme of taster sessions in schools that are planned to take place over the coming months.