Agree wholeheartedly with Peter from Stafford.
I don't see a correlation between the number of children eating school dinners to the number of children eating healthily. Has this study completely disregarded the possibility that parents are being more responsible in the way that they are packing their childrens lunch boxes?

Paul, preston,

So Jamie Oliver comes along, and like so many celebrities before him, believes he can change things for the better. Only to realise that being a celebrity does not mean he actually knows the answer to anything and things change for the worse.

Maybe celebrities should stick at doing what they do best, which is going to parties and irritating us on the TV.

Francis, Birmingham, England

I left school a couple of years ago, just as they started bringing these meals in.

Ugh, they were horrible! They were nice before, and Jamie Oliver had to ruin them. No wonder no one likes him.

Maybe kiddies would eat the meals if they actually tasted nice... how about that?

Or, you could just let them buy what they want and offer healthy stuff, you can't tell people what to do! We will eat what we want when we want and nobody will stop us!

HA! (Childish Comment)

Andrew, Manchester, England

Peter, Stafford, Staffordshire

Well said. That is exactly what do. My son refuses to have the 'healthy' school meals provided. He feels the vegetables are over cooked, the chicken undercooked and there is nothing that looks appetising. He takes in a packed lunch containing cheese, yoghurt, wholemeal sandwiches, fruit and flapjacks or chocolate. I control the amount of sugar he eats and the quality of the ingredients (mainly organic). Having said that if the school provided better quality 'healthy' food, I would encourage him to start eating cafeteria food again. Another local school provides freshly made sandwiches with ingredients chosen by the child - why don't more schools provide this service? Timeconsuming yes, soggy, no.

Roz, London,

Encouraging healthier eating and lifestyles does not happen overnight. In Nottinghamshire a number of partners including the Schools Meals Service have been working together (for 3 to 4 years now) to encourage healthier eating at school lunch time and meal numbers are beginning to increase with positive feedback from pupils, parents and school staff. New style menus promoting good food with local sourcing and attractive communication to parents all helps - visit the Nottinghamshire County Council web site to see what our pupils are eating. Also cookery clubs run by our school cooks has helped

Helen, Mansfield, UK

You cannot manipulate pupils over food. As a teacher I have seen them opt for pizza slices and chip butties rather than healthy meals. If you try to force their choice, e.g. by only providing healthy options, they vote with their feet by buying junk on their way into school with their dinner money, or they go out at lunchtime to the local chippy. I have also seen unscrupulous outsiders take advantage of the business opportunity provided by setting up stall (van) right outside the school gates at lunchtime.
The only solution is for parents to take proper responsibility and provide food (e.g. quality packed lunches and a balanced meal at home in the evening) instead of trying to buy their way out of their duties.
Education of children in schools in this respect will not, on its own, have much effect - example and habit at home might..

P. Preston, Newark, Notts.

I think you should bring a few of the children here to the US to show them what they are heading towards (obesity, diabetes, asthma, etc). I didn't really understand the depth of our epidemic until I began my career in emergency services...

Step in while you can... it may be too late for us.

Brian, Los Angeles, USA/CA

I Back Jamie Oliver's Campaign 100%

You Are What You Eat! And look at what's roaming the streets today. Frightening to think what the next generation will be eating.

Steve, Birmingham, England

If schools are set up to educate children, they must include good nutrition as part of that remit, so healthy meals should be the only option.

It's a shame that parents aren't better educated; why on earth would you suspend your common sense and feed your kids (and yourself, presumably) crap so that processed food and fast food industries can grow obese along with you and your kids.

And, sorry, Liverpool Judy - think harder.

Shirley Nott, Smalltown,

This does not take into account the fact that some parents may be providing their children with healthy lunch boxes so that they know exactly what their child is eating.

Peter, Stafford, Staffordshire

It just shows what kids think of Nanny Government.

Judy , Liverpool, england