6,850 schools host Food for Life Partnership Roast Dinner Day
On 29 September 2010 thousands of young people across England celebrated the Food for Life Partnership Roast Dinner Day, and tucked in to an organic/locally sourced roast dinner with their parents and members of the community. Thank you to everyone who took part and made it such a special day. Parents, members of local communities, local dignitaries, MPs and even some celebrities visited schools and had a taste of just how good school food can be now.
Around 6,850 schools took part, serving an estimated one million roast dinners nationwide. Many schools and caterers reported a substantial increase in school meal take-up on the day with one caterer reporting a 71% i
ncrease of school meals take-up on last year. To report how many meals you served on the day, please email fflp@foodforlife.org.uk
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver commented: "Roast Dinner Day is a great opportunity for school cooks to really show what they can do with seasonal, local food and also for schools to invite parents in to taste the delicious food that's available to their kids."
The event celebrated all the great work schools are doing to improve their school dinners as well as their overall food culture – putting healthy food at the centre of school and community life. It also marked the launch of the Food for Life Partnership Cooks Network, which consists of 16 pioneering school cooks from across the English regions.
Jeanette Orrey, School Meals Policy Advisor and former dinner lady who inspired Jamie Oliver's school dinner campaign, says:
"The Food for Life Partnership Roast Dinner Day is all about celebrating the fantastic catering staff, who are serving freshly prepared food for our children every day, as well as celebrating how far we've come in improving school meals across the country.
"It's about engaging parents and local communities in creating a better food culture for all. It's about highlighting the importance of good, healthy school dinners and educating children about where their food comes from through growing, cooking and farm visits."
Whilst celebrating how far we have come with the school food transformation in recent years, the Food for Life Partnership Roast Dinner Day also highlights the importance of carrying on this crucial work. The Partnership encourages everyone to sign the petition to Save Our School Dinners! and call on Government to support a healthy school meal service and promote food education in schools.
The aim of the Food for Life Partnership is to support schools and caterers to provide healthier, tastier and more sustainable school food. Pupils are also taught about where their food comes from, how to grow their own food and essential cooking skills. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the Partnership brings together the practical expertise and enthusiasm of four food-focused charities - the Soil Association, Focus on Food Campaign, Health Education Trust and Garden Organic.
Through the Food for Life Partnership Award Scheme, schools and their communities can turn their existing food culture into one that focuses on health, sustainability and enjoyment.
