BY SOPHIE BUCKINGHAM

Going through school and now sixth form means I am no stranger to school dinners. Some of you may cringe at that phrase.

If I were to mention the idea to my mum, I almost guarantee you she would react the same way - gritted teeth. But what is it about school dinners that puts us off?

In 2005, Jamie Oliver attempted to change school dinners and make the nation healthier. But it was reported in 2009 the number of students eating school meals decreased by as much as 400,000.

Surely parents should react positively and support Oliver’s projects. After all, healthy diets help with concentration and growth.

It has been proven that healthy eating helps with academic development.

In January 2016, 14.3 per cent of pupils were claiming free schools meals, the lowest proportion of any year since 2001.

The trouble with our generation is we’re not encouraged to engage with new flavours of food. We grow up being fed what we like to avoid winding our parents up and we turn away the chance to try new food.

We walk into our local town and there are lots of takeaway restaurants. I feel like vegetarians aren’t thought of. Why would you eat a school dinner if there isn’t option for you?

I think having more variety for vegetarians and vegans, teaching children how to cook and exposing them to new flavours will encourage those figures to rise.