Blackpool Council’s schools catering service has won a national award for providing some of the most environmentally friendly food in the area.
For many of us, the first thing we think of when we think of a school dinner is a bowl of spam fritters, or a slice of shepherd’s pie with some boiled cabbage.
Today’s students in Blackpool are eating plant-based meals – which are healthier and more environmentally friendly.
Blackpool Council’s school catering service has won a national award for providing some of the most eco-friendly plant-based school food in the North West.
Blackpool are one of just nine councils in the UK to have won an award under ProVeg’s (non-profit organisation ProVeg) ‘School Plates Awards’, which recognise the best school menus in the UK that are healthy and climate friendly.
At school lunchtime, the menu includes plant-based options such as sweet potatoes and chickpeas curry with whole grain rice, naan bread, sweet sour vegetable noodles, and whole grain bread. Plant power fajitas wrap is a wrap made with whole grain rice and savoury vegetables. Diddy plant meatballs sub roll is a sub roll made with baked jacket potatoes wedges.
Blackpool Council’s cabinet member responsible for catering, Coun Jo Farrell, said, “As our catering service continues to grow, this award is a further testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. This award will continue to raise awareness of the need to make healthier food choices, as well as educating children and ourselves on the environmental and mental health impact of our food choices.”
I look forward to seeing how the service can keep innovating ways to engage kids in conversations about what they eat and how it affects their lives, both in class and at home.
The council received a bronze award and was described by ProVeg UK not-for-profit organisation ProVeg as “a leader in sustainable eating and sustainable school dinners”.
Livestock farmers must promote the use of plant-based diets, as their carbon footprint is much smaller than that of meat-based diets.
“We are delighted that the council has been awarded bronze,” said Jimmy Pierson, director of ProVeg UK.
The meals must also be nutrient-dense and delicious, helping children choose healthier options for their lunchtime meal.
