MP Stephen Morgan attends LACA’s Great School Lunch event
During the event, LACA highlighted that free school meals funding should be increased to prevent further job losses, protect food quality and ensure every child continues to receive a hot, healthy school lunch.
Stephen Morgan, Labour MP for Portsmouth South and Minister for Early Education, commented: “Brilliant to hear from the school sector food sector at the Great School Lunch event. It is vital we have these conversations to deliver on our mission to create the healthiest generation of children in our history and a chance to tuck into a chickpea and sweet potato curry too."
The chance to put school meals on the menu at Westminster was made possible thanks to some of the industry’s biggest supporters MP Sharon Hodgson and MP Emma Lewell.
Sharon Hodgson, MP for Sunderland and Gateshead South, said: “The Great School Lunch was an amazing event and a great opportunity to showcase to Parliamentarians the range of delicious nutritious food increasingly available in schools. I hope this paves the way for better food quality in all schools and my long-standing campaign for universal free school meals.”
The MPs were served by a line-up of champion chefs, including Sharon Armstrong (2004 SCOTY winner), Raheem Morgan (2023 SCOTY winner), Holly Charnock (2020 SCOTY winner), Jennifer Brown (2024 SCOTY winner) and Rob Chambers (2021 SCOTY winner).
The main meals served were souvlaki chicken, feta & broccoli quiche and sweet potato & chickpea curry. It was be accompanied by Greek salad, kachumber salad, savoury rice, mixed seasonal vegetables, basil & cherry tomato and focaccia bread.
The desserts included chocolate & beetroot cake with hot chocolate sauce, strawberry cheesecake, fruit platter apple & cinnamon crumble with custard.
Florence Eshalomi, Labour Co-op MP for Vauxhall & Camberwell Green, added: “I benefited from free school meals and I know how vital it is for many families. A healthy nutritious meal also helps young people focus, develop and ready to learn in the classroom. Thanks to Sharon Hodgson for organising The Great School Lunch so that MPs had a taster.”