School dinners key to children's health

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th Mar 2004

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow took a trip down memory lane last week when he visited his old school for a 70s style school dinner. He was there to launch the new website for the local authority's in-house catering services, www.suttoncatering.com.

The event was held at Abbey Primary School, formerly Glastonbury High School for Boys when the local MP was an attendee. A range of 70 style school dinners were served to the guests.

Paul Burstow MP praised the increased choices on offer to today's school children and highlighted the importance of school catering in the setting of healthy eating habits to children.

Paul Burstow MP:

"School catering has an important role to play in public policy over the next few years. With the growing alarm about obesity rates not just in this country but around the globe there is a focus on diet and food like never before.

"At age six, one in five children are overweight and one in ten obese. By age 15 the figures are 31 percent and 17 percent.

"School catering and public sector catering can make an important contribution to shaping the eating habits of children, that once set, will remain with them for life."