Five Croydon schools have achieved the Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Gold standard for their healthy and wholesome school dinners.

The Pabulum Catering team sourcing fresh ingredients for use in award-winning school dinners

The schools receiving the award are All Saints Primary, Cypress Infants and Junior schools, Downsview Primary and Rockmount Primary.

The school meals at the schools are provided by Pabulum Catering.

One of the main requirements for Food for Life Gold is 75 per cent homemade food; Pabulum achieved 94 per cent. Pabulum does not use frozen meat and 19 per cent of its budget is spent on organic food.

Lucy O’Brien, the catering manager at Rockmount, said, “Some big changes had to take place in our school food purchasing and management processes to enable us to achieve the Gold Food for Life accolade. However, as a caterer, cluster and individual school we were determined to achieve this standard as it recognises our dedication to providing young pupils with the highest quality meals made from the freshest ingredients.

“The Pabulum development chefs work with all school cooks to create healthy meals that will appeal to young people and give them lots of energy for afternoon lessons.”

Pabulum boss Nelson Williams: school meals are increasingly important for our children

Nelson Williams, the managing director at Pabulum Catering, said, “More than 2,000 pupils are benefiting from these Gold standard school meals. It is fantastic to see all the hard work from our team and these schools being recognised.”

Recent research conducted by YouGov showed that 70 per cent of people prefer their child to have a school meal that had a good selection of menu items that are prepared from mainly fresh ingredients and will help the child be more attentive in class.

Williams said, “It was really refreshing to see the percentage of parents backing school meals at a time when many children are trying them for the first time with the introduction of Universal Infant Free School meals. A recent study from the School Food Plan highlighted that school meals provide 25 per cent to 33 per cent of a child’s nutrition needs for a day, so it’s vital parents are seeing school meals as the first choice.

“We’ve worked hard to create awareness with parents on our fresh ingredients and how we opt for quality ingredients and will continue to work with these Croydon schools to educate children and their families on healthy lifestyles.”

Coming to Croydon

• David Lean Cinema, The Imitation Game, Jan 22
• South Croydon business breakfast, Jan 24
• Storytime (for under-8s), Oval Tavern, Addiscombe, Jan 24
• David Lean Cinema, Night Will Fall, Jan 27 (Holocaust Memorial Day)
• Fairness Commission public meeting, Stanley Halls, Jan 28
• David Lean Cinema, Kon-Tiki, Jan 29
• Storytime (for under-8s), Oval Tavern, Addiscombe, Jan 31
• Project B Old Skool gig for Lives Not Knives, Jan 31
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Feb 3
• Soul Symphony Community Choir taster session, Feb 3
• Eagle Improv, Spread Eagle Theatre, Feb 4
• Storytime (for under-8s), Oval Tavern, Addiscombe, Feb 7
• Tales of Love, Lost and Found, Spread Eagle Theatre, Feb 7
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Feb 10
• Uninvited Guests, Spread Eagle Theatre, Feb 11-13
• Mayor of Croydon’s charity Valentine’s concert, Feb 13
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Feb 17
• Norwood Society talk: Crystal Palace and Dulwich, Feb 19
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Feb 24
• Croydon NHS CCG quarterly public forum, Feb 25
• Rosie Wilby, Spread Eagle Theatre, Feb 27
• Amy Wadge and Luke Jackson, Stanley Halls, Feb 28
• Frank Harmer Memorial 10km road race, Mar 1
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Mar 3
• Holmes Alone, Spread Eagle Theatre, Mar 6
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Mar 10
• Eagle Improv, Spread Eagle Theatre, Mar 11
• Iain Lee, Spread Eagle Theatre, Mar 14
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Mar 17
• Norwood Society talk: Charlies Dickens in Norwood, Mar 19
• Man to Man group session, St Andrew’s Church, Mar 24
• Eagle Improv, Spread Eagle Theatre, Apr 8
• Anatomy of the Piano, Spread Eagle Theatre, Apr 15
• Patrick Monahan, Spread Eagle Theatre, Apr 16-17
• Norwood Society: Balloons and airships at Crystal Palace, Apr 16
• South Norwood Community Festival, July 5

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