Chef of the Year cites lack of funding and concentration of fast food joints as obesity cause

Mr Cross, who has revolutionised the canteen at Park Community School, said: ‘Havant is filled with fast food joints in and around our schools. There is a culture of buying junk food before and after school – it really seems to kick in around Year 6. There’s also a concern with the quality of food on offer at primary schools which from my experience simply isn’t very good or healthy.’.

The award winning chef believes a lack of funding is at the heart of the issue.

‘Children from Year R to 2 are provided with a free school meal which is funded at a rate of £2.40,’ said Mr Cross. ‘It’s a real challenge to put together a healthy meal at that cost – it needs to be much closer to £3. The result is fresh produce is replaced with less healthy options which are not particularly high in quality.

‘If the government want to provide free school meals they need to adequately fund it.’

On a wider scale, Mr Cross believes packed lunch content is a contributory factor.

Mr Cross said: ‘Many parents simply aren’t aware of the sugar content of foods and supermarkets will often advertise fatty foods such as chocolate and crisps cheaper than fruit. Unlike school meals there is little control over what actually goes into a child’s packed lunch.’