School meals that have the X factor

CHILDREN from throughout Warrington were invited to enter their own version of the “X Factor” – for innovative school meals recipes.
Hundreds of primary school pupils entered the cooking competition as part of the X factor school meal challenge.
They were asked to submit their favourite recipe to be added onto the new autumn/ winter lunch menu. Pupils were asked to include fresh produce in their dish and to think about fat, salt and sugar content as well.
The council’s school meals catering service and healthy schools team, who ran the competition, were impressed with the entries.
The five winners were – three group efforts from Bradshaw and Brook Acre Primary Schools and Foxwood Special School, and individual winners Charley Curzon, from St Elphin’s Primary, and Ben Copeland, from Oughtrington Primary.
The competition was in response to an OFSTED report which suggested pupils should be involved in the development of school menus.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, the borough council’s executive member for children’s services, said: “The response to this competition was overwhelming and deciding the winners was a very difficult task indeed.
“We are hoping that this competition will become a regular feature in the planning of our bi-annual menus and that our consultation with pupils over the content of menus will go a little way to addressing their unfamiliarity with some of the foods being served.”
The winners were invited to a presentation with the Mayor at the Town Hall and their dishes are now being served at schools across the borough.