Latest news with #schoolfood
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Mark Watson: ‘I can't stand eggs. I don't like the taste or smell'
My first food memory was at nursery school in Bristol, aged about four. I remember having to eat leeks, and telling the teacher I didn't like them. She said 'tough' and I was outraged. I even went home and told my parents about this injustice. And these formative moments have a long-term effect on your taste. I still don't like leeks, and avoid them wherever possible. My mum did most of the cooking growing up. But we [Mark has twin sisters, Emma and Lucy, and a brother, Paul] would go to my grandmother's house every Sunday for a roast after church. It always struck me as a lot of effort, so much chopping and peeling and making sure all those components came together. When I started going round to other people's houses, I was amazed when they weren't having a Sunday roast. I thought it was compulsory. Secondary school food wasn't bad. There were two queues: one for burgers and chips and one for parent-friendly stuff. My dad would give me £1 every day and it was then a kind of moral reckoning whether I'd go for the chips or proper food. On Fridays there was always a dish called Kentish sausage, which was basically meatballs. I loved it and used to associate it with the freedom of the coming weekend. I imagined I'd have this a lot in adult life, but I never encountered it again. I can't stand eggs. I don't like the taste or smell. My mum would put eggs covertly in things like mashed potato. That made me all the more resistant. We used to have a chocolate bar on Sundays after the roast. And when we started getting pocket money, we'd go to Woolworths and get pick 'n' mix. With no Woolworths around now, I do worry that a generation of kids may be missing out. We never ate them in front of our mum, because she was worried about our teeth. Now we're all in middle age, we've done OK, teeth-wise. So she can relax. But even now, if I ate a Mars bar in front of her, she'd worry. At Cambridge, I prided myself on spending as little money as possible on food. Even by student standards, my diet wasn't great. I had a microwave in my room and would just do baked potatoes or pasta with stir-in sauce. My second-year roommate, Bennett, was an ambitious cook and would make curries and hotpots. His parents would record Jamie Oliver shows on VHS, send them to him and he would replicate the dishes. I scrounged off his culinary abilities and ate royally. Afterwards, when I was living on my own again, it was back to the jacket potatoes. My hangover cure is a fry-up. But as I've got older, the hangovers have become less extreme. Either I've got better at drinking strategically or the body's just given up. My partner [comedy producer Lianne Coop] is a good cook and plans two or three meals ahead, so our fridge is always well stocked. But there has to be a big pot of yogurt. Some people wake up in the middle of the night for a glass of water. I wake up craving yogurt. My comfort food is sausage and mash. My mum cooked it when I was under the weather. I would probably choose sausage and mash for my last supper. But not if I was on Death Row in America because I'm not sure if I'd trust them to do it well. Otherwise, I would mark the occasion with an enormous curry and all possible sides. That would be my final act of defiance. Mark Watson's latest novel, One Minute Away, will be published on 17 July by HarperCollins, £16.99. To preorder a copy for £14.44 until 27 July, go to or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK P&P on orders over £25. getty images, alamy, rex
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I ditched a Michelin-starred cooking career to serve school dinners… now I'm The Sun school chef champion
MONTELL DOUGLAS has become a fitness icon for a generation of kids as Gladiator Fire – after the rebooted show became a huge Saturday night hit. But when she paid a surprise visit to Henry Cavendish Primary School in Balham, South London, last week, it was to celebrate another hero making a difference to children's health. 3 3 Nathan Scarlett, 32, aka Chef Nathan at the school, has become a favourite of the 800 pupils thanks to the super-delicious food he creates and his inspiring personality. Former Olympic sprinter Montell, who wowed on the last series of Strictly Come Dancing with pro partner Johannes Radebe, dropped in during assembly to tell Nathan he had been named The Sun's School Chef Champion — as part of Jamie Oliver's Good School Food Awards. He was nominated by countless pupils after we asked readers to tell us about the best school cooks. Montell said: 'I jumped at the chance to surprise Chef Nathan with his trophy. "What an inspirational guy, and he is fuelling the future of our kids. 'Since becoming a TV Gladiator, I love that it has allowed me to become a role model for kids. "But Chef Nathan proves not all heroes wear Lycra.' As well as overseeing meals at two sites at Henry Cavendish, professional chef Nathan also runs after-school cooking clubs and holiday clubs encouraging children to eat well. He said: 'Winning was such a shock and it is amazing. 'But award or no award, working with the children, getting to know them and seeing all of their happy faces every day . . . that is my reward.' Nathan has achieved an astonishing amount at Henry Cavendish in the year he has been working there. Top school chef reveals his simple way to get kids eating healthily as The Sun present him with Jamie Oliver food award The dedicated chef gave up a career in Michelin-starred London restaurants and top private catering to become a school cook. He reveals his passion for cooking came out of his own reliance on school meals. Nathan said: 'I grew up in foster care. 'I was in about eight different foster homes around South London during my childhood. 'My mother placed me in foster care as she wanted me to have a better life. 'I fell in love with cooking during home economics lessons at school because I loved eating. 'I started volunteering when I was only 15 years old. "It was in the kitchen of Chez Bruce, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Wandsworth, South West London, and also with chef Richard Corrigan. 'I went on to study catering at college and eventually they took me on at Chez Bruce. 'I later worked in private catering, including for a top law firm. 'I enjoyed it but knew in my heart I wanted something else. 'ROLE MODEL' 'One of my final foster mothers also ran a childminding business, so there were always young children around and I just really enjoyed that setting. 'So the idea of becoming a school chef suited me and I have not looked back. 'I got married last year — and my wife Talitha is a primary school teacher, so we share that passion.' But Nathan insists that his young customers are as discerning as his previous clientele at those high-end establishments, and that passion and attention to detail are just as important. He said: 'As soon as I started at the school I knew that I wanted to involve the kids. 'I created a School Food Ambassador for every class and meet them every week to ask for their input. 'They also help serve the meals. 'When you are catering for children you have to think differently. 'For instance, the younger children often like to have everything separately on their plate, they do not like things mixed together or pre-mixed in a sauce. 'So we serve everything separately and the children build a nutritious plate, assembling a balanced meal as they wish.' Nathan was hired at Henry Cavendish when the school decided to stop outsourcing cooking to an outside catering firm, and take control of dinners back in house under the control of a school chef. 3 The school's headteacher, Matthew Apsley, is thrilled Nathan's dedication has been recognised. He said: 'Chef Nathan's passion for food is contagious. "He inspires the children with everything he does. He isn't just a school chef, he is role model.' When I sat down to sample lunch for myself — a delicious Caribbean-style chicken drumstick with salad, rice and pineapple on the side — a group of Year Six pupils explained why Chef Nathan is so loved in the school. Lillia Hau, 11, said: 'I used to have packed lunches, then I heard there was a new chef so thought I would give school dinners a try. "They are so good. 'He is such a nice guy, he always comes around and asks if we like our meals, and offers us seconds. He's not just feeding children, he's fuelling their confidence, curiosity and sense of belonging Jamie Oliver "After we finished our SAT exams recently, he baked us a special cake.' Jamie Oliver launched The Good School Food Awards, backed by The Sun, three years ago because he wanted to champion excellence in school meals. Jamie said: 'Nathan is a truly worthy winner of The Sun's Chef Champion Award. "Since joining the school last year, he's totally transformed the food. 'He's not just feeding children, he's fuelling their confidence, curiosity and sense of belonging. 'He's teaching kids how to cook, he is running after-school clubs and holiday clubs. He's an absolute superstar.'
CBS News
06-06-2025
- CBS News
Cafeteria worker accused of ordering lobster on Plymouth school account for his restaurant
The director of the Plymouth Public Schools cafeterias in Massachusetts is under arrest after he allegedly ordered expensive food, including lobster, and restaurant equipment through the school for his own restaurant on Cape Cod. According to prosecutors, an anonymous letter from a school employee was sent to the superintendent's office, saying 62-year-old Patrick VanCott was stealing school food and kitchen equipment for his business, the Snack Shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable. VanCott was in charge of the cafeteria system for the entire district. Allegedly ordered lobster on school account Investigators said they spoke to cafeteria employees, who said they noticed irregular ordering of kitchen equipment and food that would not normally go to the school district. The food included lobster meat, premium Angus hamburgers and hot dogs, none of which are served to students. One cafeteria worker allegedly told police she had worked for the school for 16 years and had seen VanCott taking deli meats, premium food products and condiments ordered with the Plymouth School Department account from the building. Items allegedly found at his Cape Cod business Security video also allegedly caught VanCott taking a refrigerator unit from the school to Cape Cod. Prosecutors said items purchased by VanCott missing from the district include a freezer, oven, microwave and pans. Items linked to the school district were allegedly found at his business. The Snack Shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, Massachusetts. CBS Boston VanCott was arraigned on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges including larceny from a building and larceny over $1,200. "These charges are significant and he has just effectively destroyed the trust of the town and the taxpayers in the town of Plymouth who rely on the money that is earmarked for children in need of school breakfast and lunch to go towards that," said Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth O'Connell. "He has taken that and he has used it for his own personal gain." VanCott's attorney didn't argue the facts of the case in court but questioned the prosecutors' value of the items and a request for high cash bail. The judge ordered VanCott to be held on $50,000 cash bail, give up his passport and not go near Plymouth schools.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Halifax students learn about the importance of healthy food and fitness
Brent Mansfield couldn't have picked a better day to spend outside for a 'fun run.' The Vancouver-based teacher is an advocate for school lunch programs and is in Halifax as part of the 'Steps for School Food' campaign. 'The fun run came from the fact that I love to run, so it's something that I started doing with my own students,' said Mansfield. 'First I ran 200 laps around my elementary school back in October of 2023 to call on the federal government that had committed $200 million a year towards a national school food program.' Mansfield has combined his love of running with his passion for healthy meals and brought that message to students. Brent Mansfield Brent Mansfield spent the day running laps around Springvale Elementary School as part of the 'Steps for School Food' campaign Thursday, May 15, 2025. 'How do we take these great initiatives to get kids moving, get outside, connecting with nature, and how do we connect that to other aspects of healthy living and just supporting student wellness like school food programs,' he said. Mansfield works with the Coalition for Healthy School Food and has connected with Nourish Nova Scotia. 'There's so much evidence that tells us that when kids have access to nutritious foods, they learn better, attendance can be better,' said Nourish Nova Scotia executive director Aimee Gasparetto. 'Food is such a foundational component of the learning environment, and so when kids are able to access food, it makes them happier, it makes them stronger and really makes them able to engage in the school environment a lot better.' Springvale Elementary School was selected as the first stop on Manfield's tour because it already has a Kids Run Club. 'Kids are trying to build up their running stamina to feel more confident and happy in movement and healthy in their body. Gets them outside, but the idea is that they're becoming better runners but confident and stronger in themselves,' said Karen Christie, the Kids Run Club Coordinator with the Healthy Tomorrow Foundation. 'I think it's such a good basis for all other activities.' Mansfield said the 'Steps for School Food' campaign is all about how to build the best lunch programs. He said all 13 provinces and territories have now signed on to the National School Food Program. 'Nova Scotia is such a leader. How do we see that grow across Canada and how do we make sure that we're building in that student engagement and food literacy that is so vital to seeing these programs be successful,' he said. Next, Mansfield will head to Newfoundland and then Yukon to continue his mission. Students Grade 3 students at Springvale Elementary School participated in the 'Steps for School Food' campaign Thursday, May 15, 2025. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
