War Time Menu Reflects on the Past
Wednesday 10th November
2010
A special wartime menu will be available at
Margaret Beaufort Middle School in Riseley, this Thursday
11th November, from 12.20pm – 1.20pm. A range of
resources have been created to educate young people about what it
was like to be at school in the 1940's and reflect on the
sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times
of war.
On the day, approximately 160 students will
enjoy the one-off menu, as their taste buds are transported to days
gone by. The ‘dinnertime with a difference’ will also provide
opportunity for students to pay tribute to Armistice Day.
Cllr David Sawyer, portfolio holder for
Children’s Services, at Bedford Borough Council, said: “The wartime
menu is an imaginative way of encouraging young people to enjoy
healthy food while sparking interest in a diet typically associated
with the past. It’s important that our children enjoy hot, healthy
meals throughout the winter months. The council takes a partnership
approach to ensuring that young people are fully aware of the
importance of eating well, which serves to keep up their strength
and give them the necessary energy to live their lives to the
full.”
The dinnertime event runs in unison with
‘National School Meals Week’ which takes place throughout
8th – 12th November. The week is set up to
promote our carefully planned school meals that meet the
government's nutritional standards.
Bedford Borough Council will be working in
partnership with the Schools Dietetic Service and NHS Bedfordshire
to ensure that schools across the borough will be taking part in
activities to increase their education and exposure to healthy
diets.
Carol Levrekus, NHS Bedfordshire School’s
Dietician, said: “The wholesome school meals we offer today are
surprisingly similar to some of the war time menus.
“Both have been carefully planned to meet the
population’s needs for good health but today we have a wider
availability of foods all year round and school children can also
eat well from a wider choice of tasty colourful international
dishes such as sweet and sour, curries, pizzas and wraps.
Children today do not need as many calories from their lunches as
in the 1940s, when homes and schools were colder and there were few
cars or TV’s and no computers. So the dishes today contain less
fat, sugar and also less salt.”