PARENTS are being invited to sit and eat school meals with their children, as Wimblington's Thomas Eaton Primary School forges ahead with a healthy eating drive. Menus are also being given out in advance to improve food choices for pupils, after a detaile

PARENTS are being invited to sit and eat school meals with their children, as Wimblington's Thomas Eaton Primary School forges ahead with a healthy eating drive.Menus are also being given out in advance to improve food choices for pupils, after a detailed survey was completed by 50 per-cent of parents.Headteacher Pam Jones said: "We have already abolished the notorious turkey twisters and chicken dinosaurs, in favour of fresh chicken drumsticks, roast pork and beef."Chips (or other forms of fried potato) are served only once or twice per fortnight and mashed potato is real not instant."Mrs Jones said parents could visit the school to sample the food but would have to pre-book meals.Eighty-one questionnaires were returned, including 29 families whose children had meals regularly, 39 just on special days and 13 who never ate school lunches.Of those not taking hot meals, 26 said this was because they ate an evening main meal, 23 preferred packed lunches and 17 said the meals were too expensive.Mrs Jones said school meals, priced at £1.60, were 3p below national average, and added: "Whilst the majority of pupils consume thoughtfully prepared, healthy packed lunches, there are some eating, on a daily basis, foodstuffs very high in carbohydrate, salt, fat and sugars, with little or no protein and vitamins."At the extreme, I have seen lunch boxes containing four items of confectionery in addition to a cake or chocolate biscuit."Mrs Jones said she would never dictate to parents, but stressed this was causing problems as other children felt it was unfair."I respectfully ask you to consider the impact this is having," she said. "I recommend no more than one confectionery item, cake or biscuit, and no canned or bottled fizzy drinks please.