Getting into the hobbit of tasty school dinners

Cooks at Edlington School kitchen dressed up as characters from the JRR Tolkein book Lord of the Rings to promote school meals.

They were taking part in events to mark National School Meals Week.

As well as the novelty costumes, the staff at the Tait Avenue comprehensive also cooked up a themed menu featuring Gandalf Fajita, Aragorn burgers, Frodo beef and Hobbit ring. There was also a giveaway of prizes through the week.

Kitchen worker Kerry Bateman dressed up as a Hobbit and described the event as great fun.

She said: “It certainly makes meal time more fun! I think the head cook Joan looked the best - she dressed up as Gandalf, compete with the long beard. Everyone made a great effort and the pupils appreciated it.”

Senior Cook Joan Kovacs said: “We try to give the students different experiences in both the atmosphere of their surroundings and the types of food available. This week has shown about a 10 per cent increase in take up which is good.

“We have themed days and/or weeks on a regular basis of approximately one every half term.”

And the Middle Earth style of the dining room pleased the pupils.

Year 12 pupil Kayleigh Parker said: “The food was different and I thought the costumes were good.”

Bev Wilburn, of year nine, added: “I am enjoying the week and was lucky to get a prize bag as I had a sticker under my plate.”

Year eight youngster Alex Scott added: “I have enjoyed the food and think the art work around the dining hall is good.”

It was one of a number of events across Doncaster to mark school meals week.

St Johns Church of England Primary School in Mexborough agreed to let the children come to school wearing their football kits as part of the promotion and they also secured tickets from Rotherham United as extra prizes for the children. The club also sent two players to come and eat a meal with the children.

Bosses at Doncaster Education Authority say the uptake of school meals in Doncaster is above the national average and even though nationally the trend is for fewer pupils to have school meals the uptake in Doncaster remains steady across primary schools and has increased in secondary schools.

Councillor Eva Hughes, cabinet member for children and public health, said: “We recognise that children will only benefit from our healthy menus if they like the food being served in their schools. These figures reflect that we are getting the balance right.”

Nationally, the average primary school meal selling price at April 2007 was 1.64 with as much as 1.95 being charged in some areas. Doncaster Council charge 1.50 for a primary school meal.