When Jamie Oliver kick-started a health-kick in British school lunches he was villified by the press. But then it's the British press. Kick is their mantra.
They gloried in printing op-eds on the Nanny State, on how healthy eating in schools wasn't working and could never work, on triumphant mothers passing through bags from the local chippy to their starving kinder.
It settled down a little.
It made the impact it was intended to make, even if it didn't change the whole lunchtime culture.
When I was working in a school it was with a mainly upper-to-middle-class catchment area (lawyers, doctors, consultants, managers)
The children came to school wanting salad, drinking water, enjoying veggie options occasionally. It was balanced and healthy, although children of course could make slightly less healthy choices. Like choosing to eat just potatoes.
The free school meal children got the same choice; and I'd say the same % chose salads, water, fruit etc.
I was looked at askance for wondering why there were no condiments available. Apparently these provide empty calories (ahem - can't be charged for.)
I dunno. I believe people with moolah spend it on Nannies for a reason. Because they bring children up well, at least according to the mores and morals of the time.
I'm not so sure I hate the idea of a Nanny State.
OMG - my child can't have sausage roll and chips every day for lunch.
I have to buy my fags in plain packaging.
My tramp juice is more expensive.
Call the waaahmbulance.
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