The government has announced the first major update to school food standards since 2015. No more deep-frying. No more ice cream. No more fruit juice. Vegetables with every single meal. Dylan and Hayden break it all down.
In this episode:
🍽️ What has actually changed -- a full before and after of the new standards, from desserts being capped at once a week to chips only being allowed oven-cooked, twice a week, as part of a meal.
🍦 Ice cream and juice gone -- the headline changes and what kids are actually going to think about them.
🥗 Veg with everything -- every main meal now requires vegetables or salad. Baked beans, pureed veg and potatoes do not count. Yes, really.
🍎 Free school meals for everyone? -- the Green Party has called for universal free meals for all primary and secondary pupils. London already funds this for primaries. Should the rest of England follow, or is targeted support better?
🏫 The postcode lottery -- the Soil Association estimates 60% of English schools were not compliant with the old standards. What is the point of better rules without proper enforcement?
🍳 The kitchen problem -- some schools cannot cook fresh on-site at all. Raising standards does not automatically come with the infrastructure or funding to meet them.
💬 Their own school dinner memories -- the chocolate concrete, the sponge and custard, the dinner lady energy. How does it compare to what is being served now?
The consultation on the new standards is open until 12 June 2026. If you want to have your say, the link is in the show notes below.
🔢 Want to boost maths fluency and arithmetic in your school? Book a free Maths Zoo trial at www.mathszoo.org
💬 Join our completely free WhatsApp community and connect with primary teachers from across the UK: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HB7n1PNGdGL5STACssEH1s
🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode
👍 Like if you enjoyed it
💬 Send us your questions for future Q&A episodes
#TeachSleepRepeat #PrimaryTeacher #TeacherPodcast #UKTeachers #SchoolDinners #SchoolFood #FoodStandards #FreeSchoolMeals #PrimaryEducation #EducationPolicy #EducationPodcast
