School lunches
14 nutritional standards for Primary Schools
- Fruit and vegetables
Lunch time must include at least 1 x 40g fresh, tinned or frozen or 15g dried fruit and 2 x 40g portions of vegetables.
At all other times where food is provided 1 x 40g fruit or vegetable or 15g dried fruit must be made available.
- Oily fish
Must be provided at least once every 3 weeks.
- Red and red processed meat
Lunch time no more than 175g over the week and only 100g of this 175g can be red processed.
At all other times no red or red processed meat.
- Sweetened baked products and dessert
Lunch time maximum of 3 times per week and less than 15g of sugar per portion.
At all other times less than 7g sugar, 13g fat and 4g of saturated fat per portion.
- Breakfast cereal
Across the school day must meet the following – no more than 15g of sugar, 1.1g of salt and contain at least 3g of fibre per 100g.
- Deep fried foods
A maximum of 3 portions can be provided in a week. Chips must only be provided as part of a meal.
- Savoury snacks
Lunch time only plain crackers, oatcakes and breadsticks.
At all other times as above and other pre packed savoury snacks such as crisps must be a pack size no more than 25g and contain no more than 22g fat, 1.5g salt and 3g of sugar per 100g.
- Bread
Across the school day must contain a minimum of 3g of fibre per 100g.
- Sweetened yoghurts, fromage frais and milk based deserts
The portion should be less than 125g. Less than 10g of sugar and 3g of fat per 100g.
- Pastry and pastry products
Must not be provided more than twice a week across the school day.
- Oils and spreads
Across the school day
Spreads must not contain more than 20g of saturated fat per 100g and more than 30g per 100g of combined mono and poly and monosaturated fat.
Oils must not contain more than 16g of saturated fat per 100g and must contain at least 55g per 100g of monounsaturated fat or at least 30g per 100g of polyunsaturated fat.
- Salt and condiments
Across the school day no salt should be provided.
Condiments can be provided when included in the menu but must be dispensed in no more than 10ml portions.
- Confectionery
Across the school day no confectionery can be offered this included chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery.
- Drinks
Across the school day free drinking water must be provided.
In addition the following drinks can be provided:
- Plain still or sparkling water
- Plain lower fat milk
- Plain, lower fat calcium enriched milk alternatives
- No added sugar, lower fat milk drinks
- No added sugar, lower fat drinking yoghurts
