Table 1 Rationale for point assignment within ‘main meal’ category

‘Balanced’ dishes, e.g.:

Spaghetti/pasta Bolognese

Vegetable curry and rice

Chicken pie (potato top)

Chicken curry with rice and naan bread

Chicken and vegetable stir fry with noodles

Salad box with meat/vegetarian

Savoury fish pie

Chicken jambalaya with rice

Irish stew/beef stew

Lasagne/vegetable lasagne

100

These options are assigned the highest points to encourage pupils to eat balanced meals at lunch (i.e. meals that consist of meat, starchy carbohydrate, vegetables and in some cases dairy). Preliminary analysis of purchasing data showed that such meals, with the exception of the meal deal and chicken curry, were not currently popular choices among pupils in one of the participating schools

Less healthy versions of the above dishes, e.g.:

Chicken curry with chips and naan bread

Chicken curry (half rice, half chips); pastry topped pies, creamy pasta dishes

Meat on its own (with no sauces), e.g.:

Roast beef/chicken/turkey

Pork chop

Braised steak

Fillet of fish

BBQ chicken drumsticks

60

Scored lower to encourage pupils to choose healthier meals (those in the category above) which are mostly lower in fat than the options in this category

Meat on its own scored in this category to allow for the addition of sides to make a balanced meal

Processed meat dishes, e.g.:

Sausage and bean hotpot

Ham and potato bake

Quiche – cheese and ham (all quiche)

50

Dietary guidelines recommend lower intake of processed meats

Pizzas (any variety)

20

Preliminary examination of purchasing data showed high consumption of pizza in participating schools—lower points allocated to encourage consumption of healthier, more balanced options

Processed meats on their own (no side), e.g.:

- Processed meats / meat dishes, e.g. bacon, sausage, ham, chicken burger, hot dog, beefburger

10

See above