Ditch the Packed Lunch in 2025! ⛔

We’re in a new year and it’s the perfect time to reconsider the packed lunch. While it may seem like a convenient option, packed lunches can often lack the variety, nutrition and excitement that your child needs to stay energised and focused throughout the school day. That’s where free school meals (FSM) come in!

Switching to FSM offers numerous benefits, starting with the nutritional quality of the meals. We provide well-balanced, freshly prepared meals that are packed with the essential vitamins and minerals students need for optimal health and learning. Unlike pre-packed sandwiches or snacks, each meal is carefully designed to provide a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins ensuring students get the best fuel for their school day.

Not only are FSM meals more nutritious, but they also bring greater convenience for parents. Gone are the days of scrambling to prepare lunches each morning or dealing with uneaten, soggy sandwiches. With FSM, students receive tasty and diverse meals directly at school, leaving more time for parents and children to focus on the day ahead.

With school meals, your child will have the opportunity to try new foods and flavours they might not get at home. From exciting themed menus like Chinese New Year meals to globally inspired dishes during International Week, your child can indulge in unique and nutritional fulfilling meals.

Packed lunches can often end up unhealthy. Did you know that a number of studies have shown that the majority of packed lunches fail to meet the school food standards and that it is far easier for a child to get the nutrients they need from a school lunch? In fact the School Food Plan reported that only 1 percent of packed lunches meet the nutritional standards applied to school meals.

If you would like to switc your child from packed lunch to free school meals, please visit https://www.havering.gov.uk/schools-education/school-support.