More kids are trying different foods in school canteens, finds survey

In a poll of 1,000 parents for the School Food Trust, more than 80% of those with children who eat school meals said their youngsters had experimented with new foods at school, with a further 50% of parents reporting they'd been asked to make dishes at home that their children had eaten at school. The poll also found that carrots, sweet corn and peas remain the most popular vegetables for children, with aubergine, chickpeas and spinach ranked amongst the least favourite. The Trust commissioned the poll following a Mumsnet survey in 2009, which suggested that some parents choose packed lunches for their children because they worry that they are too fussy to eat anything else. Chairman of the Trust, Rob Rees, said: "Every parent knows it's a nightmare watching their child push food around the plate. School meals can be a great way to help parents encourage their children to try new foods and to increase the variety of foods in their diet. "I think we all remember wanting to eat like our friends at school – it has a huge influence on what children are prepared to try, so school meals are a good option for fussy eaters. "What's more, we are starting to see a shift in children's habits since the introduction of new standards for school food. Our research in primary schools has shown that children eating school meals do have healthier options on their plates than they did five years ago." Lunches served in all maintained schools in England must now meet specific standards, so that the average meal provides the right mix of energy and nutrients that children need. Research in schools by the Trust has shown that, rather than helping fussy eaters, packed lunches generally contain fewer healthy items than school lunches. Children eating packed lunches typically take in higher levels of fat, sugar and salt than pupils eating school meals. School cooks across the country use a range of techniques to tempt children to try new flavours. In Northumberland, the head chef at Cambois First School uses self-service to encourage even very young children to put a variety of foods on their plates.