Talking about feeding futures: Healthy eating in schools

In this episode of Talking Food with Bidfood, Customer Marketing Executive Georgia Leakey is joined by Heather Dolan, Bidfood’s Nutrition Manager, and Ellie Olds, Company Nutritionist at award-winning independent schools caterer Holroyd Howe, to talk about healthy eating in schools.

Together, they explore how caterers across the education sector are supporting children to eat well, from interpreting and applying the School Food Standards, to staying ahead of food trends and creating balanced, exciting menus that inspire healthier choices.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practical tips, or insights into what’s shaping school menus across the UK, this is your go-to episode. Discover all our support for schools here: https://www.bidfood.co.uk/schools/

Interested in learning more about our FREE online training platform, Caterer’s Campus? Click here: https://www.bidfood.co.uk/podcast/uncategorised/talking-about-caterers-campus-investing-in-your-teams-development-outside-the-kitchen/

Participants

Host: Georgia Leakey, Customer Marketing Executive, Bidfood

Guests:

• Heather Dolan: Nutrition Manager, Bidfood

• Ellie Olds: Company Nutritionist, Holroyd Howe

Timestamps:

00:00- Intro

00:40- Lakeland Dairies AD

01:47- Guests introduce themselves and detail their job roles

04:07- What is your approach to healthy eating? Is there anything you need to keep a close eye on when developing recipes?

07:53- Does Bidfood have a similar approach?

09:38- (Ellie), as you work within an independent school setting, you don’t have to use the school foods standards?

11:18- (Heather), could you give us a quick update on the school foods standards, and what we can expect in this space?

12:28- Ellie, could you give us a quick overview of the standards for early years settings, and whether you will use these as part of your role?

14:51- How do you stay on top of trends to keep menus fresh and appealing for children?

15:31- Can you give us any teasers of our 2026 food and drink trends?

16:21- What about healthy initiatives? Is there anything you’re currently working on that brings this all together for children in schools?

18:34- Could you both share some of your favourite cost- effective ingredients or dishes that deliver on that nutrition?

22:33- Outro