|
|
|
|
Fequently Asked Questions
|
|
|
Primary School Catering |
Q. Am I allowed to see the menus?
A. Yes, we encourage schools to display each day's menu near the school entrance. In addition, menus are revised twice each year and we hope to be able to provide a calendar of week numbers.
Q. Can my child try the meals for a little while?
A. Yes, most schools encourage all children to start on school lunches. Others are quite happy for children to have a trial period if the parent is uncertain of what the child wants to do. A period of notice may be involved in swapping from meals to packed lunches, but individual schools decide this.
Q. My child is so fussy, I'm worried she/he won't eat anything...
A. Our staff are extremely vigilant, as are the teaching staff and midday assistants in school. We are skilled in gentle encouragement and flexible in catering for individual requirements. Children are not forced to eat anything they don't like and Lancashire staff would always have a discreet word with teachers if difficulties arose.
Q. We eat very healthily at home and I don't want my child to eat too much processed food...
A. We are very aware of the need for children to establish healthy lifestyle habits at primary school age. Our menus are carefully balanced to include home made food and fresh produce as well as popular favourites. Our choice menu system, available in most schools, enables children to make informed decisions whilst exercising personal choice.
Q. Does anyone check on the kitchens?
A. Yes, there is a team of managers, who check the standards in every school using our Quality Assurance Programme. We welcome feedback from parents and are positive about requests and suggestions from our customers. If you have any other questions to which you would like answers please contact: Catering Services on 01772 646817 or e-mail your questions and comments to the service manager.
Q. What if the school my children go to does not have a kitchen?
A. Great care is taken to freshly prepare food at the nearest school, which is then packed and transferred at the correct temperature and then served immediately.
Q. My child is a vegetarian and does not eat meat of fish. Can my child still have a school lunch?
A. Yes, we provide a choice for vegetarians each day.
Q. Are any Halal Foods available?
A. Yes, the menu in some schools contains a choice of main menu item that will be suitable for Muslims and as part of the menu cycle this will include a number of Halal meat products.
top
|
|
Secondary School Catering |
Q. Why is there so much emphasis on Healthy Eating at the moment?
A. It's important that busy and hungry students are able to choose something suitable for their needs so the focus has been on having the right choices available. The energy needs of students will vary according to age and gender and this is why there is a good variety of choices on offer each day.
Q. What are the portion sizes like and does anyone check them?
A. The County Council's service specification clearly defines the portion sizes for each group of menu items to ensure value for money. These are monitored as part of the Quality Assurance Programme.
Q. Why don't you sell branded confectionery?
A. We prefer to promote the sale of non branded traditional puddings with sauce and other freshly made items as part of a range of items suitable for dessert.
Q. If my son/daughter loses their swipe card will I lose any money that's been credited.
A. No, if a card is lost the balances that are held on the system will be transferred to the replacement card.
Q. Are the lunches expensive?
A. Where else can you buy Pizza Wedge with Jacket Potato, Salad, Fruit or small dessert and ½ Pint of Milk for £2.55? This lunch plus plenty of other healthy but filling combinations are available every day.
Q. What are you doing to shorten the queuing time?
A. Several things. Firstly, we serve a wider range of items at break so that break time becomes a mini lunch break. Secondly we are opening additional service points under the Express brand. Thirdly, we are introducing purpose built milk bars and finally, we are promoting our pre-ordered Sandwich Express lunch which just needs collecting at lunchtime.
Q. Is credit available if my son/daughter forgets their lunch money?
A. This will depend on the policy of the individual school and is worth checking.
Q. Are any Halal Foods available?
A. Yes, the menu in some schools contains a choice of main menu item that will be suitable for Muslims and where there is demand this will include Halal meat products.
Q.If my child receives free meals what are they entitled to and are there any restrictions?
A. The figure can vary from school to school but is mostly around £1.75. Students are not allowed to purchase crisps nor are they allowed to buy more than one drink.
top |
|
Catering In Other Outlets
|
Q. Do you provide for people with special dietary requirements?
A. At all our training centres and staff catering outlets we provide for vegetarians every day. When we know about a customer's special requirements in advance, like gluten or diary free, Halal etc, we will always endeavour to provide a suitable meal. If you are coming on a training course at one of our sites or are a member of staff at the County Complex , please discuss your requirements with the Catering Manager.
Q. Do you provide food for staff that want to hold an office party?
A. Certainly. If you wish to hold a small party in your office for a retirement or for someone that is leaving we will be able to quote very reasonably. Even if you just want a platter of cream cakes for someone's birthday all you need to do is speak to the Catering Manager who will arrange this for you.
Q. Will you provide food for a breakfast meeting?
A. People are starting work earlier these days and therefore we have had many requests for breakfast meetings. These are available at Bowland Café and will soon be available in County Hall for up to 100 people.
Q. I am always dieting and try to eat healthily whenever I can, what can you offer to help me?
A. Our strategy is simple; we analyse our customer's tastes, energy requirements and needs before preparing daily menus. Our Catering Managers are encouraged to adopt the following to give you healthy options:
- Oven baking or grilling food as opposed to deep-frying where feasible
- Use of a frying oil low in saturated fatty acids when there is a need to fry
- Use of fresh products to assist in the reduction of salt and sugar in the diet
- Use of reduced fat milk for sauces and custards
- Ensuring the option of yoghurt and fresh fruit is available to you
- Offering breads high in fibre
- Offering a wide selection of white meat and fish dishes in the menu
- Offering sweeteners as an alternative to sugar
- Jacket Potatoes as a menu option
- Use of wholemeal pasta and rice
- Salad bar option.
Also you may be interested to know we run a lunchtime "Weight Watchers" class at County Hall every week. Hope you can join us.
Q. On a recent visit to County Hall I noticed that there was a shop on the ground floor, is this available to people who do not work in County Hall?
A. Yes, if you are attending a meeting or have business in County Hall we would be more than happy to welcome you into the shop. We have fresh sandwiches, hot and cold beverages, a selection of cakes and confectionery and we sell some very popular "fairly traded" gifts and accessories that are at very reasonable prices. There is also a selection of handmade greeting cards for you to choose from.
top |
|
|
|
