We are now in the fifth year of The Greenside Food Experience!
Our Chef Sofia and her team continue to cook delicious vegetarian lunches that are nutritious and served in our Greenside lunchroom. Sofia is a passionate cook who has worked in a variety of different food environments around the world. The lunches offer a choice of two hot vegetarian meals with salad, bread and a pudding. There is a greater emphasis on the communal aspect of eating, with more food being served at the table and the students are encouraged to serve each other. We are pleased to say that we are now a 100% school lunch community – we do not allow packed lunches at all here at Greenside.
The philosophy behind our move to vegetarian food is that we can provide an educational experience, showing the importance of sustainability, introducing the students to alternatives as well as giving them a fully inclusive dining experience. We consider good nutrition to be essential to the health and wellbeing of the students and our school meals will be freshly prepared in our own kitchen using top quality wholesome ingredients, for example, we will not use any pre-produced sauces. We are committed to supporting suppliers who grow vegetables for flavour using regenerative farming methods. This year we are pleased to showcase produce from Natoora, Wildfarmed and Neal’s Yard. All of our meals meet nutritional guidelines and have been verified by a nutritionist. We aim to source more local products and fruits and vegetables that are in season and so fresher and more economical. Our Greenside garden continues to thrive and, thanks to the help of our students and family volunteers, we are able to supply the kitchen with fresh vegetables throughout the year.
We have been featured on Jamie’s Meat Free Meals – this was a great way to celebrate the success of our Food Experience.
All students in Reception, Y1 and Y2 are currently entitled to a free lunch under the UIFSM scheme.
For all of our other students, lunches are charged at a cost of £2.20 per day. Correct money can be handed into our Office with the student’s name on the envelope. You can also pay via school money https://www.schoolmoney.co.uk/ for instructions on how to use Schoolmoney – Parent user guide.
In order to help us provide the best service we can, we need to ensure we have as many students as possible having a school lunch. All students in Reception, Y1 and Y2 are still entitled to a free lunch under the UIFSM scheme. To help us manage our system, we would like to ask the following:
- You make a termly commitment to having a school lunch
- Lunches are charged at £2.20 per day and will be payable termly in advance or on a weekly payment plan – or £11.00 per week. Refunds are only available if your child is off for more than 5 days.
- Cheques or cash (change is unavailable) should be put in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s
- £77.00 Autumn Term 1, or £11 per week.
- £77.00 Autumn Term 2, or £11 per week
- £63.80 Spring Term 1, Or £11 per week
- £66.00 Spring Term 2, Or £11 per week
- £61.60 Summer Term 1, Or £11 Per week
- £72.60 Summer Term 2, Or £11 per week
- £418.00 For School Year 2022- 23
- Correct money can be handed into the school office with student’s name on envelope. You can also pay via school money https://www.schoolmoney.co.uk/ for instructions on how to use Schoolmoney – Parent user guide.
Greenside Food Experience News
We have lots of exciting plans ahead for the Food Experience and for the regeneration of our growing garden. Watch this space!!
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFMS)
Since September 2014 the Government has run a scheme for free school meals for Reception, Y1 and Y2 students which entitles them to have a Greenside lunch every day at no cost. Please note that this is different to Free School Meals/ Pupil Premium which the school receives for low income families. If your daughter/ son is in our Reception, Y1 or Y2 class there is currently no charge for their lunch.
We urge any family who may be eligible for Free School Meals to collect a form from the Office and return it as soon as possible even if your daughter/ son is currently in Reception, Y1 or Y2 – signing up for this is advantageous for everyone!
Nut Allergies
Greenside has students with serious peanut allergies. We do not serve nuts at school. Please be aware that because of this we cannot allow peanut or peanut related foods at Greenside in any capacity.
This includes:
- Cereal bars with nuts
- Peanut butter
- Packets or peanuts of other nuts
- Biscuits that might be contaminated by nuts and have a warning on their labels
- Cakes with added nuts
- Satays of any description
We change our menu on a seasonal basis. Menu – Greenside Food Experience Menu_ Spring 2022-23
We try to stick to the menu as best we can but sometimes there is a need to change the menu slightly due to supplier variations and the needs of our Greenside community.
Because we plan, prepare and cook our Greenside Lunches ourselves and fresh on site every day we have so many opportunities to develop ideas and initiatives. We build the whole lunch and food experience into a wider Greenside context of growing, harvesting and really understanding all about vegetables, food and the real value of eating healthily as part of a lifestyle choice.
It is always wonderful to see our students taking freshly picked carrots to the Chef and watching their delight when their vegetables appear as part of the cooked lunch!
If you have any questions about the philosophy of our Greenside lunches please feel free to contact Karen Bastick-Styles.
If you would like to talk to someone about the menu in relation to your daughter/ son please contact our Deputy Head, George Webber.
We are always happy to talk about our Food Experience and aim to continually improve our offer.