Bolton Council’s school meals catering managers have attended a Vegetarian Society Cookery School in Altrincham to give them the knowledge and skills to create their own vegetarian and vegan options for schoolchildren.

The course was run by expert tutors and the dishes will be tested by pupils at the start of the new year in September. Plant-based foods are rich in nutrients which helps to support people’s immune system and reduces the risk of suffering from diet-related diseases.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for environmental services delivery, Cllr Nadim Muslim, commented, “These meals will be exciting and tasty additions to the school menus.

'Plant-based meals are becoming increasingly popular so we’re responding by giving more choice to parents and pupils, who are looking for an alternative, while keeping a full menu of meat options.

“Having a more balanced menu will enable children to have an increasingly healthy choice of food, while providing educational opportunities to learn more about sustainability, ethical farming, fair trade, protecting the environment and climate change.”