Thursday, March 13, 2008

Health checks on pupil's lunches


School lunchboxes in the UK could soon be monitored by dinner ladies to ensure children are eating healthy meals, according to a report. Under the Government's obesity strategy, all schools will be expected to design a 'healthy lunchbox policy' on what makes a nutritional packed lunch over the next year. Some parents may even be asked to sign a form agreeing to ban unhealthy foods from their children's lunches. If a packed lunch is demed to contain too much fat and ugar, parents could be sent warning letters or their children's meals confiscated (teken by authority). Although the government has already unveild proposals to make canteen lunches much healtheir, it is concerned many parents do not have clear advice about what should be included in a healthy packed lunch.

Health secretary alan johnson and schools secretary Ed balls praised a hertfordshire school which has designed lunchbox menu ideas for parents. These include falafel and houmous pitta bread with a tomato and avocado salad, followed by fruit yoghurt. The government has also called on heads to stop children from leaving school-grounds during lunchtimes.

But critics have attacked the plans, claiming it is a gimmick (trick). Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat's health spokesman, said: "childhood obesity begins in the home, so the proposed lunchbox police won't tackle the problem's root causes". Margaret Morrissey, of the National confederation of parent Teacher Association, said: "Many parents will say these are our children and we know what we're doing. We don't need politicians to tell us what to put in our lunchboxes.

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