A study of junior school meals in South Glamorgan

A survey was carried out during spring term 1980 to assess the nutritional content and the uptake of the school meal amongst junior schoolchildren. Fifty eight per cent of children attending the schools surveyed took the school meal, the remainder went home or brought sandwiches. The school meal provided, on average, 2258 kJ (540 kcal), 20 g protein, 19 g fat and 15 g sucrose. A mean of 11 per cent energy, 9 per cent protein and 14 per cent fat were wasted. A small number of 'sandwich' meals brought by children at these schools were examined. On average, these provided rather more energy but less protein, and waste was lower than with the school meal.