New partnership brings fresh school meals to Whanganui East School

May Bennett (left) and Cath Rainey (right) with some satisfied Whanganui East School students. Photo / Mike Tweed

Whanganui East School provides students with healthy lunches and hot meals every day, and they are keen to show it can be achieved with the bare minimum of waste.

Deputy principal May Bennett said a recent news clip had drawn attention to the plastic rubbish created by school lunches, as well the amounts of food going uneaten.

"As a school most of us were quite appalled when we were watching and saw massive amounts of one-use plastic containers being used," Bennett said.

"We know that's absolutely not the ethos behind what is supposed to be happening.

"For us, our success story started because we were using a local supplier. It's much better than getting 1000 pre-packed lunches from Palmerston North or somewhere."

That supplier is Cath Rainey from Anndion Lodge, which is also located in Whanganui East.

Rainey began catering for the school's 200 students at the start of term two.

"The opportunity came up, and we just thought it would be a great way to give back to the community," Rainey said.

"We have the facilities to do it, and through this we have been able to bring on two extra staff.

"It's great to see the children enjoying the food. The teachers have said the kids have been concentrating more in class too."

Bennett said each classroom was delivered lunch in a reusable, plastic container, and sandwiches and rolls came in paper serviettes.

Cath Rainey keeps plastic to a minimum when serving up lunches. Photo / Supplied.

"On our hot food days all the plates and cutlery are in and out of the dishwasher.

"We don't want the horror stories of plastic litter everywhere at the end of the school day.

"With Cathy we have such an amazing level of service, right down to the classes who prefer less mayo.

"On hot food days everybody is lined up for seconds."

Rainey said juniors had no mayonnaise, while the seniors only liked "a little bit".

"The rolls, wraps and bread are all wholemeal, and we always have protein and vegetables as well.

"We have to make sure we adhere to the government's guidelines."

The school is part of the Government's Ka Ora, Ka Ako meal programme.

Ten-year-old Isabella Cullen said she liked the fact that the lunches had "lots of veggies and cheese in them".

"They are always really good," she said.

"There was too much mayo in the first week, but we told them that and there hasn't been too much since.

"The Anzac biscuits are also really tasty."

Bennett said the school was tracking at "pretty much zero" in terms of waste.

"Should there be leftovers at the end of the day, our principal Mrs Barry is out there handing out sandwiches or hot kai to whānau to take home with them."