Free School Meals: Pupils prefer processed food, says council

Children may be turning their noses up at free school dinners because they prefer processed foods.

That is the suggestion at one council, which said nearly a quarter of children were not accepting a free meal.

Other reasons given include a claim the Welsh government requires the same size portion for all primary school pupils.

The Welsh government said its child nutrition rules were under review and it was working with "local authorities, schools and pupils".

Council leader Mary Ann Brocklesby said the authority was monitoring the situation on a monthly basis.

"There is hypothesis in some areas, it is deeply worrying and it is shared across Wales and being fed back by all local authorities.

"Those from households that have a high dependency on ultra processed foods, the take up of what is basically a home cooked, nutritionally good to an all-Wales standard meal of low salt and sugar content, is not acceptable to the taste buds of certain children who do not want the meals."

The Labour councillor for Llanelly Hill added that she hoped cooking lessons and initiatives such as forest schools would mean pupils "develop a palate that is more amenable to good quality food".

Monmouthshire was one of the first authorities in Wales to roll out the Welsh government's commitment of free school meals to all its primary schools - its take up was 76%, described as the top three in Wales.

Some schools now ask pupils what they want for lunch at registration, rather than doing so weekly or monthly, and other changes include sausages back on the menu rather than roast dinners.

Ms Brocklesby acknowledged the changes had not been universally popular.

Council officer Debra Hill-Howells said the Welsh government's rules on same size portions for all, from four-year-olds to 11-year-olds was also contributing to food waste.

"It is a frustration for us and frustrates the older learners who are not getting enough and it is too much for some of the younger ones."

More pupils being fed by schools has also meant some require pupils to eat within a certain timescale and "some [pupils] don't like that environment", said Ms Hill-Howells.

Any changes to menus must adhere to guidelines set by the Welsh government.

A government spokeswoman said: "Our regulations and guidance set out the type of food and drink which should be provided to ensure children and young people have a healthy balanced diet while encouraging them to develop good eating habits."

New recommendations on child nutrition mean the rules are under review, she said, adding the views of a "local authorities, schools and pupils" were being sought.