Parents have branded Cardiff's new school dinner menu "rubbish", with some claiming their children are refusing to eat the food on offer and coming home hungry. All primary schools in Cardiff have had their school menus updated this autumn to be brought in line with new Welsh Government healthy eating regulations.
The new menu ensures pupils are offered more fruit and vegetables, wholegrain foods and plant-based protein such as beans and pulses. The new regulations and updated guidance from Welsh Government are designed to reflect current scientific recommendations around sugar, fibre and processed meat, helping schools provide nutritious, balanced meals that align more closely with the Eatwell Guide, the UK's healthy eating model.
Mixed reactions from parents
The new two-week menu for 2026/27 has sparked a heated debate, with some parents welcoming the wider choice of meals while others say there are not enough suitable options for children with additional needs or fussy eating habits. The menu features meals including macaroni cheese, chicken korma, hotdogs, fish fingers, vegetable nuggets, pasta, jacket potatoes and plant-based alternatives.
There are three first-course options available each day, alongside a choice of carbohydrates, vegetables and a second course. When readers were asked for opinions on a Facebook page, the response was mixed. One mother said she was unhappy that her daughter could no longer have a jacket potato as a back-up option whenever she disliked the main meal.
Chelsea Leigh Copp commented: "I'm annoyed they've taken jackets potato away as back up option for everyday of the week. If there's a meal my child don't like I will get her jacket potato, but now it's only on days that it's meals that most kids like."
Concerns for children with additional needs
Grandmother Julie Edgeworth raised concerns about the options available for children with additional needs. She said: "They haven't thought of special needs children. A lot of them won't eat any of that. My grandson had broccoli and crackers yesterday."
Lucy Murray said the changes had left her having to provide packed lunches for her eldest daughter several times a week because she would not eat the meals on offer. She said: "I now have to do packed lunch three times one week and four times the second as there is nothing on the menu my eldest daughter will eat, but my youngest daughter is loving the changes, so we're split about it."
Che Sullivan said her son, who she suspects may have autism, often struggles to eat school dinners because he prefers plain foods without sauces or mixed ingredients. She said: "I dread that call around 1.30pm to tell me my child hasn't eaten." She also questioned the choice of vegan cheese, arguing that standard cheese should remain available alongside vegan alternatives for children who prefer or require it.
Sally Pratten said her autistic son would not eat any of the meals listed on the menu, adding that she and her husband work long hours and therefore have to pay for school meals.
Support for the new menu
However, not everyone has been left disappointed by the changes, with several readers taking to social media to defend the new menu. Jayne Holmes said it looked like a "great menu", suggesting children who are used to eating a varied diet at home are more likely to try different foods at school.
Sam Williams said the menu was similar to those offered in Rhondda Cynon Taf and had helped her daughter eat a wider variety of food. She said: "Plenty of parents clearly commenting that their little angel should face different/better rather than being grateful they're not having to spend a lot of money on packed lunches. Hungry kids eat and while they may hold out a little while, they will eventually adjust."
Joanne Esposti also questioned how quickly parents had begun criticising the changes, pointing out that the new menu had only just been introduced. She said: "It only came into existence yesterday! How are kids coming home hungry already??"
Mary Cherrington was equally enthusiastic about the options, saying her two-year-old granddaughter had eaten all of the foods listed. She added: "You can even have chips on a Friday with fish fingers or salmon. Sign me up!"
Samantha Sexton said she welcomed the changes, explaining that children had been eating from the previous menu for three to four years and that the options could become repetitive. She said: "I like this new menu, there's a lot more choice and there's pasta and cheese on the menu which is always a good fall back."
Emma Jones also defended the new choices, suggesting children should be encouraged to eat a wider variety of foods rather than expecting every meal to be a favourite. She said: "Sometimes you eat to feed your body and mind rather than taste buds. If this is cooked well with good quality ingredients this menu could be delicious."
Council response
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: "The new menu has been introduced to meet updated Welsh Government healthy eating regulations, which require school meals to include more fruit and vegetables, wholegrain foods and plant-based proteins, while reducing foods high in sugar, processed meats, deep-fried products and sweetened desserts.
"Our catering team has worked hard to develop a varied and nutritious menu that meets these new requirements while retaining a number of familiar favourites, including chicken korma, bolognese and sausage and mash, alongside new dishes.
"We have received a significant volume of positive feedback regarding the new menu, with supportive comments substantially outweighing the concerns that have been raised. A small number of negative views, received on day two of a 10 day menu cycle does not fully reflect the broader response we have received from pupils, parents and schools.
"We do, however, recognise that children's tastes and preferences vary and that any change for familiar school meals can take time for pupils to adjust to. We value all feedback and will continue to listen as pupils become accustomed to the new menu."
