East Lancashire parents have been warned that poor primary school dinners are in danger of creating a health crisis among their children. So how good or bad is the typical school menu in East Lancashire? Reporter RICHARD HOOTON found out. . .

CARTOON shaped chicken nuggets and soggy chips are an unwelcome distant memory from many people's schooldays.

But leading dietician Jenny Slaughter claimed in yesterday's Evening Telegraph that things were still dire, with cheap, stodgy, unhealthy meals at local primary schools could mean pupils die before their parents.

She claims the situation in some local schools is so bad that cooks simply re-heat pre-prepared food and do not even have the equipment to peel a potato.

It's a view backed by some parents.

Gillian Hoyle, whose son Matthew attends Edenfield CE School, said: "Matthew takes lunch from home because the school dinners are quite expensive for what the children get and there is also a lack of variety and too much unhealthy food."

Andrea Brighouse's five-year-old daughter attends Tockholes Primary. She said: "She won't eat school dinners. She doesn't like the food, so I just give her sandwiches, fruit and a yoghurt which is easier."

But at Brookhouse Primary School, Blackburn, headteacher Jacqui Young insisted that the school's intake were offered the correct "quantity and quality" of healthy food.

After joining the canteen-style queue yesterday I enjoyed a tender and tasty chicken curry with rice, onion bhajis, pitta bread and lentil dahl with healthy fruit for afters.

It tasted fresh, with a mix of all the nutrients I would expect a child of my own to receive.

On the menu for the rest of the week youngsters had the choice of a variety of healthy options including soups and vegetable sausages.

The school also has a salad table and youngsters drink fruit juice, milk and water and receive a free piece of fruit as part of a Government initiative. Mrs Young said: "There has been a big improvement in school meals and the provision and choice. There's good variety. They don't just get one set meal and like it or lump it.

"They are not forced to eat anything, but we try to encourage them to eat different things."

She agreed youngsters eating junk food would become unhealthy and possibly disruptive, but said there were no such problems at Brookhouse.

Cook Judith Harrison freshly prepares the food in a clean, well-maintained kitchen and said she was satisfied with the equipment and ingredients.

She added she had a big say in what was on the menu, but listened to colleagues' views and was prepared to take the children's opinions on board.

The youngsters themselves were equally happy. Hatim Isap, eight, said that although he liked pizza and chips he was also enjoying his curry and rice.

Zainal Arif, four, added: "I really like the school dinners here. I like rice best and I also like to eat lots of fruit and yoghurts."

Other primary schools also rejected the criticism and stressed their pupils had a choice of healthy options.

Liz Beaumont, head teacher at Blackburn's Cedar's Infant School, said pupils loved their meals and she insisted parents were delighted with the range of healthy options.

"Our cook works very hard with the LEA to produce healthy meals and give children choice," she said.

"The children like school dinners and we have themed lunches. We try to introduce new meals to them and encourage healthy eating and healthy choice.

"We are about to introduce a salad bar so they can go and try to help themselves to fresh salad from choice. There's a lot of choice available."

Mrs Beaumont said, unlike some primaries, the school had stayed working with the LEA, with the partnership providing the necessary advice and equipment for good school meals.

And mums and dads are even invited along to the themed meals, such as a recent African lunch, and have given thumbs up to the initiative that provides exotic new tastes for youngsters.

Blackburn's Griffin Park Community School head teacher Craig Ward said he was also happy with the service from the LEA although he knows of schools that have opted for self-management.

He added: "I think the children get a varied diet and choice and they get quite a selection. There are always salad options although there is an over emphasis on processed foods.

"The children enjoy school dinners and we try to make meal times an enjoyable and social occasion. It's a time of the day when they can get together around a table," he added.