Glorious Food? English Schoolchildren Think Not

Rotherham Journal ^ | October 18, 2006 | Sarah Lyall

[Diana in Wisconsin]

ROTHERHAM, England — Five months after the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver succeeded in cajoling, threatening and shaming the British government into banning junk food from its school cafeterias, many schools are learning that you can lead a child to a healthy lunch, but you can’t make him eat.

The fancy new menu at the Rawmarsh School here?

“It’s rubbish,” said Andreas Petrou, an 11th grader. Instead, en route to school recently, he was enjoying a north of England specialty known as a chip butty: a French-fries-and-butter sandwich doused in vinegar.

“We didn’t get a choice,” he said of the school food. “They just told us we were having it.”

The government’s regulations, which took effect in September, have banished from school cafeterias the cheap, instantly gratifying meals that children love by default: the hamburgers, the French fries, the breaded, deep-fried processed meat, the sugary drinks.

[Red Badger]

...England specialty known as a chip butty: a French-fries-and-butter sandwich doused in vinegar.

And THAT is considered HEALTHY????????....Sounds absolutely hideous!.......

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Worthy of a 'Nanny State Ping?'

“They shouldn’t be allowed to tell the kids what to eat,” Mrs. Critchlow said of the school authorities. “They’re treating them like criminals.”

Mrs. Critchlow has become a notorious figure in Britain. In September she and another mother — alarmed, they said, because their children were going hungry — began selling contraband hamburgers, fries and sandwiches to as many as 50 students a day, passing the food through the school gates.

The mothers closed their business after they were vilified in the national news media as “meat pie mums.” Mrs. Critchlow now feeds her children lunch at home.

I love it! We need some 'Meat Pie Mums' right here in America. ;)

[MadIvan]

No, the school is trying to serve a healthy lunch, just the kids aren't eating it.

Regards, Ivan

[Hazcat]

No that is not considered healthy. It is what the kid bought on the way to school.

[Mo1]

many schools are learning that you can lead a child to a healthy lunch, but you can’t make him eat.

Great policy .. now they are starving the children .. /s >

[conservative cat]

I don't think the English, in general, are known for their healthy eating. As much as the Americans get criticized for how we eat, I think at least we attempt to be healthier (salads, fresh fruit/vegetables, etc). It's been 20 years since we last visited, but I did not notice a trend for fresh food there, especially with younger people.

[piasa]

No, it's not considered healthy- it's what the kid was eating instead of what was offered at school.

It does sound grotesque though.

[Red Badger]

They tried this in my school in the early 70's. More food wound up in the trash than in the kids......

[MadIvan]

There's a school somewhere in London where the mothers get orders from their kids at the playground, and then go pick up fast food from the local fish and chip shop.

If I wasn't paying for National Health, I wouldn't care. But that's the problem with socialised medicine - more money paid out to people who can't take care of themselves means there's less for people who have been sensible and really need it.

Regards, Ivan

[exile]

"No, it's not considered healthy- it's what the kid was eating instead of what was offered at school.
It does sound grotesque though"


I don't know. Lose the vinegar, add some gravy and I'm there.

[Red Badger]

"More, sir! Could I have some more?":.......

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

So the kid eating the chip butty called the new school food rubbish? Just think how bad it must have been if it is worse than a chip butty.

[MadIvan]

I personally think the schools should be privatised, parents given vouchers and National Health done away with. Then people can eat whatever they like and only hurt themselves.

Regards, Ivan

[Mo1]

I wonder when folks there .. and here in the US will ever start to realize whenever they come up with these stupid rules/laws .. they always make it worse

[RepoGirl]

Chip butty's (although, I thought they were Chip Buddies, must have heard it wrong through the haze of beer) are both horrifying and tasty at the same time. Still, at my age, I wouldn't even attempt to choke one down. Ah, for the days when I was young, stupid, drinking a lot and able to eat that kind of fare without much damage.

This article is absolutely infuriating. Another case of the nanny state attempting to force its collective nose in where it just doesn't belong. I am heartened by the backlash. The kids are just rebelling (as kids do) and the Meat Pie Mums have won my heart. Just proves the government will try, but eventually the people will just get fed (no pun intended) up.

[Red Badger]

...only hurt themselves.

B-b-but it's for THE CHILDREN!..............

[Protagoras]

The English are terrible cooks in general. I know my own heritage. :^}

[End Times Sentinel]

Jamie Oliver is a no-talent hack.  His recipes are god awful and his show was far worse.  He's a closet 'mo.

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

[MadIvan]

So what, if the kids are stupid, that's hardly my problem. Liberty means the capacity to do dumb things...so long as one takes the consequences.

Regards, Ivan