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11 March 2019
St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh has exceeded the standards required to maintain its Healthy Living+ Award. Once gained, the Healthy living+ award runs for a period of 2 years and is reassessed annually. St George’s have held this award since 2014 meaning that NHS Scotland has recognised its commitment to providing and supporting healthy eating in school.
This advanced award requires an obligation to healthier eating (at least 70% healthy choices) with the school committing to providing a high number of healthy eating choices on daily menus. This includes cooking with approved healthy ingredients, and using cooking methods that keep fat, salt, additives and sugar to a minimum level. Vegetables, milk and fresh water must also be made available at all meal times.
“The school has been able to do this”, says Tony Brooks, Catering and Events Manager, “by using healthy cooking practices to produce food that is freshly cooked on the premises using recipes we have adapted.”
“Ingredients are sourced locally and directly from producers and suppliers as much as possible with an emphasis on using seasonal vegetables and fruit. Over 40 salads are offered a day including super foods such as lentils, couscous, brown rice and quinoa. This does not mean that we don’t produce home-made puddings such as chocolate brownies and apple crumble and custard. We just adapt the recipes to make them healthier.”
Alex Hems, Head of St George’s, says:
“We are delighted that the school has retained this award and our catering team are justly recognised for the quality of our food as well as our commitment to providing healthy school meals.
“Educating children in healthy eating habits plays an increasingly important part in today’s society. We believe there is a connection between a healthy diet and the ability to feel and perform better. The nutritional value of our food is an important element of the school’s ethos and benefits the whole school community.”
