Kelsall Primary School pupils take control of their dinner menu

Dec 31 2009 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

HEALTHY youngsters have taken control of their school dinner menu.

Pupils at Kelsall Primary met the school nurse to discuss how healthy their snack times were.

As a result the school menu is being reviewed while pupils are being encouraged by peers in the school council to bring healthy alternatives to sweets and crisps during break time.

Deputy head David Wearing said: “The school council used the Thinking Actively in a Social Context wheel to collate our thoughts.

“The children talked about the types of snacks they bring in or can buy at the canteen and which of these they felt were healthy or not so healthy.

“From there they devised an action plan to try and make snack times healthier for us all. The emphasis was really on educating children and adults about the benefits of choosing a healthier alternative, but also that chocolate and crisps in moderation are OK once in a while.

“The school council is now consulting its classmates and will implement changes in the new year.”

As part of the Healthy Schools Award, which Kelsall has already achieved, staff and pupils are identifying which items on the school menu should be reduced.