The school canteen, how is it going?

We do not laugh with children’s food! The school offers them balanced and varied menus and, even if it cannot ensure their dietary balance on its own, midday meals have the merit, in any case, of meeting their needs.

What do children eat in the canteen?

Typically, they include:

• a hot or cold starter;
• a main course: meat, fish or an egg, accompanied by green vegetables or starches;
• a dairy;
• a fruit or a dessert.

Iron, calcium and protein: the right doses for children

The National Food Council (CNA), which defines food policy, stresses the importance of protein, iron and calcium levels in school catering for children’s growth.

To prevent obesity problems, the current trend is towards lowering lipid levels and increasing fiber and vitamin intake (through fruits, vegetables, cereals), in calcium (through cheeses and other dairy products) and hell.

With of course always water, the drink of choice.

Canteens under control!

You don’t have to worry about the quality of the dishes on your little gourmet’s plate. Food is monitored, with a guarantee of origin and traceability. The canteen also undergoes regular hygiene checks (about once a month), in addition to taking food samples, taken unexpectedly.

As for the menus, they are established by a dietician, according to the national nutrition-health program (PNNS) *, in collaboration with the manager of the city’s school restaurants.

*The national nutrition-health program (PNNS) is accessible to all. It aims to improve the health status of the entire population through nutrition. It is the result of a consultation between the Ministries of National Education, Agriculture and Fisheries, Research, and the State Secretariat for SMEs, Trade, Crafts, and Consumption, as well as all the players concerned.

Canteen: an educational role for children

In the canteen, we eat like the grown-ups! You cut your meat on your own (with a little help if necessary), you wait to be served or you help yourself while being very careful … little everyday things that empower children and which have a real role educative.

The canteen also allows them to taste new dishes and discover new flavors. It’s always good to eat what you don’t necessarily have at home.

Many establishments have made great efforts to make the canteens more convivial and the meals more enjoyable.

The canteen, in case of food allergy

It is often difficult for the school to plan menus adapted to children who need a special diet. But just because your child is allergic to certain foods does not mean that he cannot go to the canteen like other children! In practice, it all depends on the type of allergy:

•  If your toddler can’t stand certain specific foodslike strawberries for example, the establishment can easily replace them with another dish… and voila! In the case of self-services, the establishment may decide to display the menu details so that the child can choose, on his own, the foods he can eat.
•  In case of more important food allergy (allergy to peanuts, eggs, milk, etc.), the school director can set up an individualized reception plan (PAI). It then brings together the parents, the school doctor, the canteen manager… to put in place the appropriate measures allowing the child to eat lunch at school. Together they sign the PAI where parents undertake to prepare and provide their child’s midday meal. Each morning, he will therefore take his lunch basket to school, which will be kept cool until lunchtime.
•  If the school has a large number of children suffering from food allergy, she may decide to hire an outside company to prepare special meals for them. Namely that the cost will be higher for parents …

The canteen, in case of medication

It is often a delicate subject. If your child has a medical prescription, the director of the establishment, the supervisor of the canteen or the teacher can give him his medicines at midday. But this process is done solely on a voluntary basis. Some shirk this responsibility which they consider too great. It will then be up to the parents to travel at noon to ensure that their child is taking his treatment.

On the other hand, if he does not have a prescription, things are clear: the teaching staff is not authorized to give him medication.

My child refuses to go to the canteen

If your child refuses to go to the canteen, use your cunning to change his mind:

• Trying to make him speak for know why he doesn’t want to eat in the canteen and then find the right arguments to reassure him;
• Evoke the daily comings and goings between home and school which may tire him out;
• Tell him that the meals in the canteen are as good as at home, and sometimes even better! And that he will surely discover new recipes that you can then make him;
• And don’t forget to focus on all the time he’ll save after the canteen for play in the playground with her friends !

Do you want to talk about it between parents? To give your opinion, to bring your testimony? We meet on https://forum.parents.fr.