The School Food Trust (SFT), on behalf of the Department, is taking a number of steps to assist schools to encourage parents to provide healthy meals for children. The SFT parent's forum is an electronic message board where parents can communicate with each other about school food. Access to the forum is via
http://forum.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/forum/people.php.
The SFT has also produced a booklet and a leaflet especially for parents and carers, which clearly lays out what the standards on school lunches mean and how parents can play a part in transforming school food. In addition the SFT has information and guidance on how to prepare healthy and varied packed lunches including some menu ideas and case studies.
‘Let’s Get Cooking’ is a network of cookery clubs for young people and parents funded by the Big Lottery Fund and led by the School Food Trust in partnership with well-known organisations with experience in food skills and campaigning, including the Prince's Trust, Business in the Community, Magic Outcomes and the Improvement Foundation. The aim of ‘Let's Get Cooking’ is to give children and non-cooking parents of all ages the skills and confidence to cook nutritious and tasty meals from scratch, outside of school hours. More information can be found at
http://www.letsgetcooking.org.uk/Home.