Dinner time...

Did you see Jamie’s School Dinners last night? An interesting programme pointing out some of the bad things that are happening in education. The school he was in produced each 2 course lunch for an average of 37p on ingredients, one lad when asked said his usual lunch was a plate of chips and a bowl of Custard. Another girl said it was the same stuff got at home. I think one of the most interesting points was when he got some of the food analysed, the kitchen was not allowed to add salt but yet all the pre prepared food came full of it, it was also lacking in vitamins and iron both of which had an impact on the education, the iron apparently helps concentration and vitamins keep the immune system working, therefore a lack of both means the students don’t concentrate as well and are off sick more often. I think this is perhaps another area of education where the government is failing, but what about us as parents and youth workers? I know as a parent if I want my children to eat a good amount nuggets and chips will always go down well (we do give them some peas and sweetcorn as well which also go) but if we try and give them something more balanced sometimes it will be eaten, sometimes it will decorate our floor! What can we as the church, or even should we be doing to try and improve the diet of young people both inside and outside school, if we believe we are a part of Gods creation it is our responsibility to look after our bodies and help others to do the same, can we do that for 37p a head?