Parents want healthy school dinners

Mothers and fathers from Ysgol Gynradd Betws Gwerful Goch near Corwen have succeeded in their fight to get healthier options on the menu.

However, they have called on Denbighshire County Council to introduce locally produced food.

"We are getting some local vegetables but the meat has been given to a major contractor and it comes a long way," said concerned parent Elwen Roberts.

Mrs Roberts said she got involved with the campaign for healthier food for her childrens sake.

We formed an action group and decided we had to do something for the sake of the children Elwen Roberts parent

"Originally from my point of view it was my daughters saying that the food tasted strange especially the meat compared to what they had at home," she said.

"We looked at the menus and there were a lot of things that concerned us, in particular the use of convenience and highly processed foods.

"Many parents had tried to complain individually to the authority but seemed to get nowhere.

"We formed an action group and decided we had to do something for the sake of the children."

Since then, Buddug Ellis, a teacher at the school, says things have improved.

There will be on the new menu fruit, cheese and biscuits and yoghurt everyday Buddug Ellis teacher

"Before we had a new menu lots of the food that the children were given was things like chicken nuggets but now we've got a better balanced menu," she said.

"The most popular day of the week is still a Friday when they can have chips.

"My own personal opinion is that there should always be a choice for those children who want to eat healthily.

"There will be on the new menu fruit, cheese and biscuits and yoghurt everyday."

However, Mrs Roberts said they are still pushing for the local authority to buy their produce locally.

"We've seen the menus for September and it doesn't address the sorting issue.

"It's absolutely ridiculous that we're a small rural community and we're not supporting the local community."

Denbighshire County Council Leader Eryl Williams said the authority has taken parents' concerns seriously.

"We have re-addressed many of the issues and we're definitely looking towards a positive approach," he said.