International School Meals Day
International School Meals Day (ISMD) on 9 March brings folk together to talk about what goes in to school meals and raise awareness of the importance of good nutrition to education and wellbeing.
Each weekday, our 260 catering colleagues in school kitchens (as well as our 25 ELC nursery catering assistants) start slicing and dicing so that pupils can tuck in to balanced, nutritious and tasty meals, all of which comply with the Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2000.
The regulations have increased access to fruit and vegetables, ensuring that our children and young people can access their 'five-a-day' at school; reduced the amount of sugar that can be accessed in school; brought provision of red and red processed meat in line with the Scottish Dietary Goals; and changed the way food and drink is offered in secondary schools to better meet the needs of young people.
The theme of ISMD 2023 is ‘our changing food – methods, menus and meals’. As well as complying with the regulations, menus also continue to evolve as children’s preferences change. Each day the catering teams offer a selection of up to three main course items and a choice of puddings, fresh fruit and yoghurt. Every effort is also made to accommodate adapted diets.
The catering service holds the bronze Food for Life Served Here award from the Soil Association Scotland for primary schools and nurseries. The award recognises councils that serve meals that are made from fresh ingredients, use free-range eggs and higher welfare meat. At least 75% of dishes on the menu must be freshly prepared on site from unprocessed ingredients.
Moray Council works with local suppliers to source sustainable ingredients, using them to create fresh, balanced, nutritious and tasty meals for our children and young people – food they want to eat. Our suppliers include:
- Fresh milk from Graham’s Dairy in Nairn
- Free range eggs from Allarburn in Elgin
- Seasonal vegetables from Swansons Fruit & Veg
- Fresh bread from Straithisla Bakery in Keith for the Keith and Fochabers area
- Quality meat from Fraser Brothers butchers in Forres for the Forres, Lossiemouth, Elgin and Speyside area
- Quality meat from Andersons Butcher in Buckie for the Buckie, Keith and Fochabers area
- Breaded haddock from Downies in Whitehills.