Aysgarth School

Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Healthy eating initiatives have been in the headlines recently. However, at Aysgarth School we pride ourselves on the fact that our excellent catering team, under the leadership of Heather Thomson, has been serving delicious, meals for many years.

• Meals are homemade, using fresh, local produce.
• We offer a choice of meals, and there is always a large selection of salads in the lunchtime salad bar. A well-stocked fruit basket is available all day.
• A colour coding system makes it easy for the children to ensure they are getting a well balanced meal and each menu is planned to ensure that every child eats at least 5 portions of fruit/vegetables a day.
• At the end of lunch the children have a savoury, such as celery or carrot, to help clean their teeth.
  
• We cater for all dietary requirements. Food is nut-free and, whilst we cannot guarantee to be 100% additive free, we do monitor the use of additives very carefully and do not use aspartame.
• Children are encouraged to try new foods and we work closely with parents to see how fussy eaters can be helped to eat a well-balanced meal.
• We know that children do not always want to eat what is good for them. The boys make suggestions to the School Council, which are considered by the Catering Manager and the Headmaster’s wife. The School Nurse, Catering Manager and Headmaster’s wife meet each term to review the menus and ensure that we achieve a satisfactory balance. Cunning use of wholemeal flour in all our baking means that the boys can enjoy delicious home made cakes and rolls, without realising how nutritious they are!
• Table manners are very important and each table is headed by a member of staff who ensures good manners are observed.

Pre-Prep and Nursery children join the Junior Prep boys for lunch. It is not wise to offer young children too much choice, so everyone is given a daily hot meal, essential for growth and stamina.