Creed Foodservice’s team of development chefs have partnered with dietitian Juliette Kellow to launch the UK’s first ever ‘Brain Food’ school menu aimed at secondary schools.
The menu includes breakfast and lunch options, along with a smoothie station. Each recipe includes ingredients that have a part to play in brain function, as well as offering nutrients for all aspects of wellbeing for teenagers, such as providing energy for playing sport and supporting cognitive function for music or drama lessons.
The menu is launched as new research by the wholesaler reveals an overwhelming majority (96%) of parents say they would welcome their child’s school offering a menu that provides dishes rich in nutrients that support brain function, a sentiment shared by 76% of those who work in state secondary schools.
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Anna Clapson, insights manager at Creed Foodservice, says: “We wanted to understand what those on the frontline – who are with the children every day, whether that’s at home or at school – are seeing. And it’s clear how strongly linked nutrition and learning are; 94% of people who work in a state secondary school agree that pupils who consume nutritious, filling food and drink before and during school learn better.
“If pupils don’t eat something nutritious and filling before or during school, 83% say concentration is affected negatively, followed by mood and energy levels (77%), behaviour (75%) and ability to learn (69%). It’s not only classroom-based activity that is affected, 65% said physical health (such as headaches and stomach pain), sport (41%) and interaction with peers (39%), are also impacted negatively. If this is happening consistently, week in and week out, the overall effect on learning outcomes becomes substantial.”
Rob Owen, executive business development chef at Creed Foodservice, who co-created the menu, says: “Half the battle for schools isn’t just encouraging children to eat the right food at breakfast and lunchtime, it’s getting them to eat a proper meal full stop. Our findings show that pupils’ main priority at lunchtime is socialising with their friends and 48% of parents told us their child skips breakfast at least one school day every week. No one can function well if they don’t have any fuel inside of them.
