A high-quality, balanced meal helps kids to concentrate and gives them enough energy to stay active and alert right through the school day. Here's what to look for in good school catering.

Check your school's menus against our food lists to see whether the catering relies on unhealthy, processed foods.

• Is the menu varied, with a wide range of healthy options on offer over a week?
• Is water readily available to drink, at meal times and through the day?
• Look at the Soil Association's Food for Life action pack, which has examples of nutritious school menus you can compare with your school's meals.
• Is there a whole-school policy on school meals? If so, this should include:

  — sourcing food from approved suppliers

  — buying as much as possible locally

  — using organic and fair-trade products

  — avoiding genetically modified (GM) ingredients, and meat products that contain mechanically retrieved meat

  — keeping salt, sugar and additives levels low.

If you're not satisfied with the meals your school is providing, you'll find details in this pack of how to find out who to go to if you want to discuss the problem, advice on the most effective way to raise the issue with the school and ideas on how to campaign for better food at school, as well as suggestions on improving your child's diet at home.