Bedford School hopes to boosts boy's performance with superfood menu

The independent school is part of a pilot programme created by culinary team Independents by Sodexo.

The recipes fall under four aims – to focus, strengthen, sustain and recover.

William Hackett, catering manager from Bedford School said the new meals will be trialled alongside the usual menu and boys would be advised on which dishes would help them feel stronger mentally and physically.

“This is a very exciting programme which will help our young people understand the effect that the food they eat has on their bodies,” he said.

“All our boys – particularly those in our Sports Performance Group – already learn about the benefits of eating certain proteins and complex carbohydrates on their ability to strengthen their bodies or aid muscle recovery. This will form an extension of that allowing them to put the theory into practice.

“We are allowing our boys to make informed choices – so we have set up a special area in the dining hall showcasing the meals on offer each day and explaining how their ingredients will help body and mind.”

And that's not all, the school has even created a video, which you can watch in this article

The school says:

*Focus meals will be beneficial during exam periods as they include ingredients designed to sharpen the mind such as quinoa

*Strengthen meals are designed to fortify and include high protein ingredients like tuna, eggs and chicken which are key for muscle development

*Sustain meals will be designed to energise and include ingredients such as spinach which is high in iron

*Recovery meals will be high in vitamins and minerals such as magnesium.

Bedford boarders will be offered the new selection of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner while day boys will be able to benefit from the extra options at their noon meal.

Paul Quinn, health and wellbeing manager for Independents by Sodexo said: “We are thrilled to be working with Bedford School to go beyond the tried and tested catering model to deliver food that powers performance, not just food that feeds.”