Even More Healthy Meal Options On Menu For Brynteg Pupils

School meals at Brynteg School became even healthier this term after pupils put in requests to introduce some new menu options. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After pupils who are members of the school council conducted a full review of food on offer in Brynteg, their feedback led to new hand-held options such as burritos and pulled pork pasta sauce being added to the menus, while the canteen also trialled a new fruit and salad bar. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A previous pre-order service for sandwiches and salads has been reintroduced too, while students have been quenching their thirst with a choice of new café style drinks including frappes and smoothies that contain mangos and other super fruits. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A recent survey found that only 56 per cent of boys and 38 per cent of girls at the Bridgend secondary school regularly eat breakfast during the week, so school council members have been reminding their classmates about the current healthy breakfast provision that is available at the school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend County Borough Council’s catering team serve up a breakfast service from 8:15am each day, with toast, fresh fruit and milk among the options available for both lower and upper school pupils to buy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Brynteg Head Teacher David Jenkins said: “The school council has looked in depth at what pupils want, and are delighted to see that their voices have been listened to by BCBC Catering Services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new options have been well received and the review has led to some interesting conversations around the importance of eating breakfast. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’ve been asking pupils why they choose to skip breakfast, and have made them aware of the benefits they gain from fuelling up with a healthy breakfast to start each day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’ve also been reminding them that if they eat school meals they are accessing a balanced and nutritional diet that is also good value for money. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The school council members deserve a lot of credit for what they have achieved this term, as does Kate Perna, one of our Directors of Learning, who has played a key role in liaising between the pupils and the catering services team.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise Kerton, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Catering Services Manager, said: “We are always keen to hear feedback from pupils to find out what we can do to improve and broaden their meal options. We’ve taken their comments and suggestions on board and have been pleased to offer them even greater choice this summer. Following feedback from the school council, we’re also looking into the possibility of introducing meal deals.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise added: “All of our meals meet the Welsh Local Government Association’s Healthy Eating in Schools regulations, and a vast amount of complex work goes into ensuring that the meals contain the nutrients required to give hungry pupils all the energy they need for a busy school day.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​