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Parents reeling over school’s controversial ban

Sausage rolls given the old heave-ho

Back in our day, we used to enjoy a bit of stodge in our school lunch box – a pork pie or a sausage roll would provide the perfect fuel to get us through the afternoon’s lessons (yawn).

But a primary school in Yorkshire has infuriated parents by BANNING those two pork-based pastry staples, along with other tasty snacks, in keeping with the trend for healthy eating.

Shirley Manor Primary Academy, near Bradford, described such foods as being “high in salt and saturated fat”, and warned: “If found, a parent will be called.”

But some of those parents are up in arms over the ban, claiming that it puts extra pressure on them.

One moaned: “I’m all for healthiness but, sometimes, [kids] can be picky eaters. I wish it was more relaxed. It’s hard for us parents who have picky children.”

Another suggested that school governors shouldn’t be allowed to dictate what their children eat: “Teachers are there to teach them. You send your kids to school to learn.”

But headteacher Heather Lacey is adamant that the policy will be good for kids in the long run.

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She said: “We want to ensure that our children eat well and grow up understanding the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

“We’ve written to parents to let them know how we want to work together from this term to ensure their children eat a balanced meal.

“It’s important that pupils avoid eating too much food that’s high in sugar, salt and saturated fats. This includes things like pork pies and sausage rolls, sweets and fizzy drinks in their packed lunches.

“Children are allowed a treat each day, and we’ve invited parents into school to discuss their children’s dietary needs.

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“We want to work with our parents to ensure pupils are happy and healthy in school, and that these changes work for every child.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that celebrity fitness coach Joe Wicks wants to make it compulsory for pupils to exercise every day at school.

He told Yahoo! News: “I want to be known as someone who really made a massive impact on loads of people’s lives.”

It’s estimated that nearly a third of children aged two to 15 are obese or overweight.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor