[cameronh90]

We used to have free milk, but Thatcher got rid of that (Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher).

One challenge in the UK, especially somewhere like London, is we have a fair amount of diversity in food choices.

Providing nutritious, tasty meals on a very limited budget with options for vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten free and other diets can be a challenge for schools, and many primary schools are quite small without cooking facilities. When I was young, it was normal in primary to bring a "packed lunch" from home, usually a sandwich and crisps. The standard UK lunch as an adult is still a sandwich for most people. The move towards free cooked school meals has been suggested because turns out that many don't have access to a daily healthy cooked meal at home.

[jacooper]

BTW kosher = halal, both have almost the same requirements.