Healthy Eating
Parents - and supporters of Jamie Oliver - will be delighted to learn that healthy eating is at the top of Ashby School's menu every day.
Three years ago, the school took control of its own food preparation and, since then, has transformed the dining experience and eating habits of hundreds of students.
Ashby School is committed to raising nutritional standards and promoting healthy eating. All aspects of food and nutrition in school support the health and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors.
To achieve this, a 21 point healthy eating plan has been drawn up, enabling students to make informed choices about the food they eat.
This includes a commitment to:
- oven cook or grill, instead of frying;
- avoid artificial flavourings and colourings, wherever possible;
- use semi-skimmed milk;
- reduce fat, sugar and salt in homemade cakes and biscuits;
- offer fresh fruit, salads and vegetables, low fat milk drinks and yogurts every day;
- promote healthier snacks;
- provide free drinking water;
- stock low sugar, no added sugar, and still drinks;
- serve rice and pasta regularly;
- offer a daily sandwich selection, with low calorie fillings;
- sell all healthy options at a reduced cost;
- omit salt from the cooking process.
In autumn 2006, the school introduced further radical changes by withdrawing all crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks from sale, in line with Government recommendations.
It also limited the number of deep-fried items, such as chips, to just two a week.
For students who find it harder to break old habits, burgers are still on the menu – these are now handmade on site from healthier recipes with reduced levels of fat and sugar.
Meanwhile, chocolate cookies have been replaced by sultana or cherry varieties for students with a sweet tooth.
Ashby has also introduced self-service salad and deli bars, along with pasta cones which are served with a selection of tasty and nutritious sauces.
As a result of its commitment to higher nutritional standards, the school has influenced a seismic shift in eating habits. Since September 2002, sales of burgers in the largest of the school's two restaurants have plummeted from 220 to 100 a day, while the number of chips sold has halved.
During the same period, the popularity of sandwich wraps has soared, boosting daily sales from 0 to 40. There have been similar increases in the daily sale of jacket potatoes (from four to 40), salads (from 25 to 70) and baps (from 24 to 72).
As well as its two restaurants, the school also operates two cabin-style outlets in the school grounds, for students who choose not to have a sit-down meal. The Cabins' menus include healthy snacks such as fresh soup, jacket potatoes, rolls, sandwiches, salads and wraps.
All profits from food sales are ploughed back into improving kitchen facilities and boosting healthy eating initiatives.
Nicola Leigh, catering manager at Ashby School, has spearheaded all the developments, in close partnership with the food technology department.
She said: "I believe in healthy eating, particularly for youngsters. At Ashby School, we are working hard to educate children to eat more healthily. Parents can feel reassured that their children have access to a good quality meal and that what we are offering here is a world apart from the traditional image of school dinners."
Parents with questions or suggestions about any school catering issues are welcome to contact Nicola Leigh on 01530 413748 x 222.
The school has a four-week rolling cycle of menus as shown below.
Weekly menus
Week one
Monday
- Salmon pie
- Daily special
- Tomato and pepper pizza
- Spicy wedges
- Fresh carrots
- Garden peas
Snacks
- Pasta King with daily choice of sauces
- Fresh soup of the day
- Jacket potato
- Cheese and potato pie
- Deli/salad bar selections
Tuesday
- Beef and black bean sauce
- Daily special
- Ham and pineapple pizza
- Parsley potatoes
- Fresh cabbage
- Sweetcorn
Snacks
- Pasta King with daily choice of sauces
- Fresh soup of the day
- Jacket potato
- Spicy tomato pasta
- Deli/ salad bar selections
Wednesday
- Roast chicken and seasonings
- Daily special
- Spicy beef pizza
- Roast potatoes
- Fresh cauliflower
- Sliced carrots
Snacks
- Pasta King with daily choice of sauces
- Jacket potato
- Broccoli and cheese bake
- Spicy bean burger
- Deli/ salad bar selections
Thursday
- Lamb Rogan Josh
- Daily special
- Chicken tikka pizza
- Steamed rice
- Five vegetable medley
- Sweetcorn
Snacks
- Pasta King with daily choice of sauces
- Tuscan bean pasta
- Fresh soup of the day
- Jacket potato
- Deli/ salad bar selections
Friday
- Breaded haddock fillet
- Lasagne
- Pepperoni pizza
- Chipped potatoes
- Mushy peas
- Sweetcorn
Snacks
- Pasta King with daily choice of sauces
- Cheese and onion pasty
- Jacket potato
- Cauliflower cheese
- Deli/ salad bar selections
