Stale baguettes and “Waitrose prices”: Scottish pupils at school dinners –

One study found that school meals are too expensive for those who qualify for free meals, and a ban on sugary snacks may encourage teens to eat more elsewhere.

One of the largest studies of its kind has raised the lid on the eating habits of young people in Scottish secondary schools.

The complaints were “barely edible” food, dry bread without butter, and stale baguette.

One student said the sandwiches were priced “as if they were sold in a Waitrose bar.”

Nearly a third of students who do not eat in school said that the main reason they do not eat is “they don’t like food”.

Unsurprisingly, the foods the students wanted to review were the more unhealthy varieties, such as pepperoni sandwiches, smoothies, hot dogs, hamburgers, cakes, and juice boxes.

About 15,000 students from 200 secondary schools shared their views on school meals with a team from the Glasgow Caledonian University Poverty and Inequality Research Unit.

Many were unaware of last year’s government regulations aimed at reducing sugar intake and ensuring students have access to “five fruits and vegetables a day” during the school day.

While over 60% don’t think food has made them healthier, some students said banning unhealthy snacks encouraged the junk food craze.

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One student said: “I feel they have gone too far in healthy eating for it to be okay to eat cake during the break.

“Just having healthy options has led people to go to the shops and buy twice as much unhealthy food.”

Another teenager said the school forbade leaving the school gates, but the students broke the ban “because the food was too bad”.

Although some students wanted the food to be healthier, older students were more likely to complain but expressed more concerns about the quality of the food served.

Some have reported that the pandemic has led to a deterioration in quality.

Those with dietary needs were even less positive, with nearly half (48%) describing them as bad or really bad, compared with 34% of those without special needs.

Vegans misjudge food (61%), followed by those on a gluten-free diet.

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While the researchers said low numbers require careful interpretation, students who identified themselves as Christians (32%) were less likely to rate food as bad or really bad than students who did not identify with a religion. (45%). For Muslim students. .

The Scottish Government has committed to offering free universal school meals in primary schools. Cost was identified by researchers as a major concern for high school students who qualify for free meals.

Some claimed that the salary was not always sufficient and that during their training food prices increased significantly.

One student said: “For some people it has become inaccessible and they turn to other ways of eating.

“I get £ 2.45 a day as part of my free meals, which isn’t enough for a drink on break and nothing to eat for lunch.”

Another said; “A sandwich that used to cost £ 1.20 is reasonable, now £ 2.70 which I think is shocking for a school sandwich.

“Currently a main course costs £ 1.80, then a drink costs £ 0.80, which is £ 2.60. Thus, the people who take advantage of the free school meals [allowance] can’t eat main course and drink without earning extra money.

Those who did not qualify for free school meals were more likely to rate food quality as bad or really bad (29% versus 35%).

Some students said they spent the free enrollment allowance during the morning break, and those who qualified were more likely to have missed breakfast before arriving at school.

Students asked to be consulted on the choice of meals offered and 81% said they had not been met.

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The overwhelming majority of the students were positive about the food service staff, with one commenting, “Alice, the lunch lady, this is the only right thing in the world.”

Some young students and people with autism spectrum disorders described the cafeteria environment as frightening with rampant “bullying and pushing”, while others said 40 minutes was too short for a lunch break due to the long canteen lines.

GCU Professor John McKendrick, who led the research, said: “What we wanted to do was open up the discussion. What we don’t do is give precise recommendations on what needs to be done.

Herald Scotland:

“In presenting a national image, we must not forget that there is incredible diversity in schools.

“The flashbacks have been pretty amazing from school to school and what they really need is school-level intelligence to understand the problems at their door.”

Source: Herald Scotland

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