The Catering Department at Somerset House provides the children and Staff of the school with a morning snack of sandwiches and iced tea, as well as a cooked lunch. We provide a healthy, balanced meal with options to choose from. There is always a protein, starch, vegetables or salads, as well as yoghurt or fruit. Bread and spreads are also available at snack times and at lunch. This is all included in the school fees.
All special food requirements are handled individually in consultation with the parents. We will try and assist with all special food requirements as far as practically possible. Special diets are diets for pupils with a medically diagnosed requirement, not just a dislike of certain foods or food groups. It is our policy to provide a meal for those pupils with medically diagnosed chronic conditions or food allergies, food intolerances or a medical condition which affects eating requirements. Our Catering Department understands that some people have sensitivities to certain foods that non-sufferers would find harmless. When someone has a food allergy, their immune system reacts to a food or food group(s). We recognize that severe allergies can cause life-threatening reactions and that food intolerances do not involve the immune system and are not generally life-threatening but can make the child feel poorly. We will, from time to time, require assistance from the parents in helping provide some components of the meals or snacks.
Policy on nuts:
To avoid any chance of cross-contamination at break times, children with any form of known nut allergies, which are classified as severe and/or life-threatening, are requested to:
- Bring their own sandwiches in their own sealed containers each day.
- Avoid eating sandwiches from the sandwich boxes made available at break times and after-school.
- Discuss with the Catering Manager any snack of which he/she may be unsure.
- When arriving at the dining room for meals, children are requested to sit in the nut-free zone.
This will reduce the risk of trace elements contaminating non-nut sandwiches and the chance of pupils suffering allergic reactions.
A balanced Diet:
Eliminating whole food groups or parts thereof is not healthy for growing children, which is why the lunchtime meals at Somerset House consist of a protein, carbohydrate, vegetables and/or salad and fruit, with the children being free to choose the components of their lunch as they wish. There is also brown bread and spreads available at every lunch for those who would prefer that to the lunch time meal, as well as yoghurts on Fridays. Brown bread sandwiches (made from fortified stone-ground flour) and fruit are provided during break as well as a home-made iced tea consisting of 100% fruit juice blended with rooibos tea. The children are encouraged to drink water if they are thirsty. Our meals are made from produce of the highest quality:
- The hake / fish-fingers are endorsed by the Heart Foundation and are low in fat and high in omega fatty acids.
- Crumbed chicken products are made from 100% chicken breast and are oven grilled.
- Sausages, beef patties and kebabs are made on order for our school and are also oven grilled.
- Our soups are home-made from scratch and packed with vegetables and goodness.
- Our fruit, vegetables and salad ingredients are delivered fresh three times a week.
- Our vegetables are steamed or roasted ensuring maximum nutrition and our sauces are made from fresh ingredients every day.
- Lean beef mince is used for our spaghetti, lasagne and cottage pies and we include hidden vegetables like finely grated carrot, celery, leek and lots of tomatoes and onions for maximum nutrient impact.
Pre-Primary Food
The Oakwood and Prep School meal planners differ slightly due to differences in the children’s ages, different textures of the foods, as well as the “little bits” which the smaller children tend to shy away from which can be found in stews, soups etc.
Most of the left-over food is donated to community projects.
Meal planners are updated each term considering seasonal changes as well as continual feedback from Staff and children.
You are welcome to email info@somersethouse.co.za for examples of our delicious menus!
