Crosslea pupils can pop to the pasta point

A pilot scheme offering primary school children in Manchester a wide variety of healthy and attractive lunchtime meals has launched in its second school.

Pupils at Crosslea Primary School in Blackley, can now visit one of the new food stations in the school as part of a new Fresh Fayre menu, offered by Manchester City Council's catering service, Manchester Fayre.

They can choose to pop to the Pasta Point, slip into the Sandwich Station or call for the Cook's Choice every lunchtime.

Each food station provides a choice of main meals and desserts. The new menu is being trialed in three primary schools, including Crosslea, before it is rolled out across the city.

Children who have already tried Fresh Fayre have voted it a success, with comments including ""The new dinners are great. Yum Yum", "I love the Pasta Point the best" and "I like them a lot. They are really nice and yummy!"

Councillor Bernard Priest, the Council's Executive Member whose responsibilities include school meals services, said: "The children who have tried the new Fresh Fayre menu so far are really enjoying the choice and pupils are already starting to switch from packed lunches to the new menu, which gives lots of attractive and healthy meal options each day."

Michelle Hargreaves, marketing manager for Manchester Fayre, said: "All our school meals are freshly prepared by skilled staff in our kitchens each day using good-quality, fresh ingredients that we buy locally when possible and seasonally available.

"Our menus are nutritionally-analysed to ensure that they meet the required food and nutrient-based standards to provide children with a healthy, balanced meal.

"There are different main courses and desserts available (including vegetarian and Halal options) every day at each food station. And we always have on offer milk, water, bread rolls, cheese & biscuits, fruit, yoghurt and a selection of freshly-baked cookies."

Pasta Point offers choices ranging from pasta bows and twirls to noodles or rice, from tomato sauce to curry sauce.

Sandwich Station has a range of bread rolls and wraps with various fillings.

Cook's Choice offers popular dishes including cottage pie, curry with rice & naan bread, and homemade lamb burger with chips and salad.

Media contact:

Claire Keegan, tel: 0161 234 4014