Nutrition is essential for learning and growth. We take the responsibility of nourishing young minds seriously, diligently and carefully considering how food impacts cognitive learning, focus, energy levels, and growth. According to a study published in PubMed, students are 18% more likely to be on-task i.e. concentrated and alert, following tailored modifications to food provisions. This displays the positive effect of high-fibre foods and increased fruit and vegetable intake on students’ cognitive learning levels. This is why we carefully select every ingredient in our catering service for the education sector, to enable students and faculty to be the best they can be.
Surpassing standards
Our catering service delivers nutrient-dense foods to students and staff. We adhere to UK government food standards, and each menu item is reviewed by our team of nutritionists to ensure it not only meets but exceeds school nutrition standards. At a minimum, our service fulfils the standard quotas of fresh fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, required portions of meats, poultry and oily fish, while strictly limiting high-fat, salt, and sugar foods.
Initiatives to push good food
Of course, our efforts do not stop there. We understand that making people and places the best they can be requires consistent effort. Therefore, we have established several partnerships and internal initiatives that we integrate as part of our service delivery.
We go above and beyond, taking part in VEGPOWER’s ‘Eat Them to Defeat Them’ campaign, which encourages children to eat more fruit and vegetables. We support this campaign across all our primary school locations to help children reach their five-a-day goal.
Understanding the importance of promoting healthy eating and providing nourishing food, our nutrition team developed a PSCA-shortlisted initiative, ‘Goodness’. This robust campaign was established to communicate the value of proper nutrition, debunk food fads, and reintroduce fun into healthy eating. Goodness Lessons, tailored for students from year 1 to year 13, provide complimentary sessions to enhance the impact of our service delivery. In 2023, the focus was ‘Food and Mood,’ with ‘Sugar Awareness’ lessons scheduled for 2024. These lessons, which reached 1,085 pupils over 39 sessions, engage students with fun activities that increase their understanding of the benefits of fruits, vegetables, wholegrain starchy carbohydrates, and reducing sugary foods.
We also provide informative fact sheets to the parents and guardians of students who have taken part in the lessons, offering nutrition tips and healthier food swaps that can be made at home. Our nutrition team covers topics like plant-based diets, sports nutrition, and nutrition careers, and delivers bespoke lessons on topics such as micronutrients and age-related dietary needs.
A holistic approach to healthy eating
Our skilled and passionate chefs run a Junior Chefs Club onsite at the schools we serve, specifically designed for those students who are interested in the art of cooking. This innovative club is more than just a fun extracurricular activity; it’s an enriching educational experience where students are taught to prepare wholesome, nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs. We believe in fostering a healthy relationship with food from a young age, and our Junior Chefs Club does exactly that by promoting the importance of balanced meals. Furthermore, we ensure that all our young chefs are acquainted with safe cooking practices, instilling a sense of responsibility and safety awareness that goes hand in hand with their culinary skills.
We are committed to educating students on the principles of healthy eating, and we work to provide them with food options that are not only nutritious but also appealing to their taste buds. We believe that by introducing them to various wholesome meals, we can instil an appreciation for a balanced diet and help shape their future eating habits. This commitment is reflected in our catering service. We encourage you to explore more about our brand, its philosophy, and how we are making a difference in students’ lives through our culinary efforts.
“We’re really proud of the food we provide to students. We recognise that children are the architects of our future, and proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in their growth and development, helping them become the best versions of themselves. It goes beyond simply serving meals; it’s about fostering a deep understanding of the nutritional value of different foods on the brain, body and gut. Our Goodness initiative, combined with the dedication of our chefs, ensures a holistic approach to nourishing and empowering these young minds.”
Iona Hudson
OCS Nutritionist