19 things we had at school dinners that were either loved or hated

For generations, a number of school dinner items have been staples, from hot school meals to sweets.

For years, be it in elementary or middle school, I ate them regularly. Some were undoubtedly beige beauties that wouldn’t measure up to today’s nutritional standards, while others are still staple favorites in and out of school, the ECHO previously reported.

Earlier today, the ECHO revealed that an inspection of LIPA Primary and Secondary School in Liverpool city center found it downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’ by Ofsted. Ofsted’s latest inspection report, initially released to parents and seen by the ECHO, highlights a number of concerns at the school, but other concerns have since been raised with the ECHO by a parent at one school, including about the standard some schools. the meals being served to the students.

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Following the report, the ECHO took a look back at the school food that many of us will be familiar with. Here are 19 things we ate in our school lunches in Merseyside that we loved or hated.

This list is not intended to be comprehensive, we have included a number of items from previous school menus that you may remember. But if you feel we should have included something, let us know in the comments section below.

1. School cake

Still referred to as “school cake”, nothing beats a square slice of sponge cake with white frosting and multicolored sprinkles on top. Many people still have fond memories of this retro cake or the excitement of seeing the diner ladies start serving it while you’re standing in line at lunch.

It never became unpopular, but in recent years many of us have tried our hand at creating our own school cake pan at home or buying a slice from a local bakery. Earlier this year, we tried it ourselves.

2. Turkey Twizzlers

A controversial corkscrew treat – Turkey Twizzlers are still remembered today not only for their taste, but for the frenzy when they were banned from schools. After years of being loved by schoolchildren, in 2005 Turkey Twizzlers disappeared from school canteens and from our supermarket shelves, thanks in part to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Fatty and processed, they weren’t as good for us as they tasted, but that didn’t stop the youngsters having fun when they were taken off the lunch menu. In 2020, the ECHO reported how Bernard Matthews relaunched the controversial product, supermarket chain Iceland stocked them in store – with lunch meat said to be much healthier – with double the turkey meat of the original.

3. King of pasta

Pasta King was a staple of the lunchtime menu and still exists in a number of local schools. If you went to high school in the 00s – you probably remember standing in line for a Pasta King in the cafeteria.

Served in their red dishes, you’d be unlucky to get a batch of pasta that was particularly watery. But for many, meatballs were the favorite on the menu.

4. Pink cream

Pink cream has been paired with many retro school desserts. With the thick skin, in many cases, the pink added a little more fun compared to using the standard yellow cream.

Many believed that the recipe simply added food coloring to regular cream. But some people feel nostalgic and still do today, adding hot milk to Angel Delight or a packet of pink and white mix.

5. Square pizza

Forget your triangular slices, square or rectangle shaped pizza was everywhere during our school days and usually served with chunky chips. Sometimes as thick as the pan it was cooked in, you knew it was pizza day when the smell wafted through the dining room.

Do these bring back any memories? Let us know in the comments section below.

6. Crinkle cut carrots

Many of our meals at school were combined with the vegetable combo of peas, sweet corn combo and shredded carrots. They didn’t taste any different and were probably bought that way in the package.

And many associated them only with school meals. Vegetables weren’t always the favorite part of a school meal, but we’d eat them if dessert was on the cards.

7. Pie with cheese

Certain generations will remember being served some form of cheese pie or even cheese flan. Cooked in a deep pan, the massive dish was cut into squares and often served with chips.

8. Mashed potatoes “from an ice cream scoop”

This doesn’t need much more explaining – but many schools served a perfect ball of mashed potatoes that was like something out of an ice cream scoop. Lumps and consistency can be a problem on some days, but they were usually served with meat such as sausage, gravy and vegetables.

9. Coconut jam and sponge

Another sweet treat to rival school cake – many of us opted for a coconut jam cake whenever it appeared on the menu. A classic in school dining halls, the sponge lightly coated with jam and coconut shavings would be baked as a massive pan and cut into pieces.

10. Fish fingers

It’s not limited to school premises, sometimes you can’t be fish fingers, chips and beans. A healthy lunchtime dish, it is still a staple for generations of families today.

11. Rice pudding

You either loved it or loathed it – but for generations, rice pudding was the only dessert offered at school. There are so many varieties of it in the supermarket today, many not leaving rice pudding behind with their school days.

12. Pancakes for Spam

The thought of a Spam steak is not particularly appetizing to today’s youth, but generations ago it was a staple in our local schools. Usually served with mash and some form of vegetable, Spam is said to have been fried in batter and is believed to have been introduced during the First World War.

13. Arctic roll

At school, you knew it was a good day when the Arctic Roll was on the menu. A classic still sold in restaurants and supermarkets, you couldn’t beat ice cream wrapped in a thin layer of sponge with jam spread.

14. Semolina and jam

The thought of semolina and jam may still send shivers down the spines of some former pupils – but other kids absolutely loved it. The milk porridge-like dessert came in a bowl with a dollop of jam in the middle to sweeten it up.

15. Supreme chicken

A little different from many of the treats and dishes on our list, a school chicken supreme was usually served with chips or rice. A lot of kids looked forward to it, but in some schools it might be a little gelatinous.

16. Dinosaurs from Turkey

They’ve never received as much controversy as their distant cousins, Turkey Twizzlers, but Turkey Dinosaurs have solidified themselves as another school dinner classic, served with smiley faces of potatoes or beans or spaghetti circles. They are still made by Bernard Matthews manufacturers to this day, but they don’t make their way onto school plates as often today.

17. Canned fruit cocktail

They’re not the most adventurous, but many of us will remember having a cocktail bowl of canned fruit ready to eat next to our warm main meal. This dessert was usually paired with a little whipped cream.

18. Tapioca

Tapioca is loathed by many of the older generations and probably unknown to today’s school children. Milk pudding is still associated with our bygone school days and was sometimes known as “frog pudding” because of its texture.

19. Iced Buns

Sometimes known simply as school rolls or iced rolls, you can still buy these treats in many chain and independent bakeries. Served at dinner or even sold during recess, they weren’t as elaborate as other desserts, but many loved them just the same.

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