In this episode I talk to Naomi Duncan from Chefs in Schools, about the positive steps we can make to improve the quality of school food, and their ambitions for the future.
About Naomi
“Naomi spent her early career running restaurants, cafes and bars in commercial, business and education settings. Inspired by the release of the School Food Plan in 2014, she established a successful consultancy to help schools implement the philosophy of the plan. Naomi joined Chefs in Schools shortly after launch in 2018.”
Does your child enjoy their school meals?
Have you ever asked them? If the answer is no, is there something you can do about it?
Naomi believes there is, and as part of her work with the amazing team at the charity Chef’s in Schools, she is working towards a future where all of our children are fed well at school.
190 meals a year…
That’s how many meals a child has at school, and for some it might be the main source of nutrition for the day.
For many years food and cooks in schools have been undervalued. There have been some initiatives to improve things and there are some positive stories, but not enough and not quick enough for the team at Chefs in Schools.
They are on a mission to provide guidance and training for any school, that wants to improve the standards of their food, and ultimately roll this out to every school in the country. Through putting chefs into school kitchens and their new training scheme for existing school cooks, they want to put the focus on providing quality, tasty food, cooked from scratch on the menu. Helping children, teachers and parents understand the power a well-balanced daily meal can make on the growth and development of every child.
Sharing the passion
Giving chefs and cooks the power to create exciting menus, and connect with the children to make food fun and interesting is key.
If that means simply swapping frozen breaded fish and chips, to fresh breaded fish and chips then that’s a step in the right direction. But ultimately, if we can encourage children to be excited and interested in food, they will be more inclined to try different foods and have a wider palate.
Obesity is a growing problem. However, it’s not as simple as people eating too much, it’s often eating the wrong foods. If we can educate children at school about food, they will take those skills with them as an adult.
Quick fire!
- What is your most positively memorable meal? I’ve been lucky enough to dine at some amazing restaurants and a particular favourite was a restaurant in Scotland.
- What food reminds you of childhood? Comforting British food such as stew (with dumplings) and Sunday dinners.
- What have you got for tea? Chilli from my freezer – I love to batch cook.
Chefs in Schools links
My links
Has this episode made you think about the quality of the food in your child’s school? Or can you remember your own experiences of food at school? I’d love to know.