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Health conscious kids could give Jamie Oliver a run for his money

5/ 5/2005

CULINARY creativity enabled a team of students to overhaul their school dinners this week.

And the lads at North Manchester High School for Boys on Charlestown Road banished turkey twizzlers from the menu, replacing them with fresh alternatives including Quorn bakes and vegetable biriyanis.

Their ideas led them to victory in a city-wide competition, run by Manchester City Council's catering arm, Manchester Fayre.

The year eight youngsters battled it out to design, prepare and cook a two-course nutritious meal that could be sold in their school canteen for less than £1.

The teams of four pupils worked on their lunches over a six-week period, fulfilling the brief of producing a savoury item, dessert item and drink while taking into account dietary restrictions and cultural diversity.

And a panel of experts chose the boys as the overall winners, over other teams from neighbouring Our Lady's RC High and other schools in south Manchester.

Their winning recipes will go onto menus in high schools across the city and the pupils also received a trophy, as well as equipment for their food technology department.

The cook-off followed a year-long project with a team of nutritionists going into the participating schools to give nutritional lessons.

Manchester Fayre nutritionist, Louise McErlain, said: "Feedback from teachers shows pupils are also more likely to choose salad boxes and low fat options."

Nutritionists have also managed to sneak portions of fruit and vegetables into the diets of unwitting pupils using recipes such as chocolate and beetroot muffins, courgette cake and pineapple and coconut buns.