Our top 5 meal hacks to keep children happy with what’s on their plate at school

This week (10–14 November) marks National School Meals Week, a time to celebrate the power of a good school meal. At Dolce, we believe that mealtimes should inspire curiosity, confidence, and connection. From introducing pupils to new flavours to making lunchtimes more fun and inclusive, our approach to school catering goes far beyond the food itself.

Here are our top five meal hacks to keep children happy, excited, and engaged with what’s on their plate at school.

1. Keep things fresh with themed weeks

Giving school meals a theme sparks enthusiasm and helps to introduce children to new favourites and global flavours.

Take our ‘Week of Wok’, which we run to celebrate Chinese New Year – a week-long celebration of oriental cuisine that encourages pupils to explore global flavours. The menu features comforting classics like sweet and sour chicken and katsu curry, alongside exciting newcomers such as Bulgogi Philly cheesesteak and Vietnamese bánh mì.

By balancing the comfort of familiar favourites with the curiosity of something new, we make global flavours feel accessible, exciting and educational.

2. Invite parents to the table

Nothing encourages children to enjoy their meals more than sharing the experience with someone they love. Our ‘Parents Eat Free’ days do exactly that.

We offer a buy-one-get-one-free opportunity for pupils to bring a parent or grandparent (or any adult who plays a part in their life) to lunch – so they can see (and taste!) just how good Dolce meals are.

It’s a simple but effective way to engage parents in school meals and showcase the food that is on offer. It’s a good idea to tie these days to special occasions such as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Schools can even roll it out class by class throughout the year – and we handle all the details to make it seamless.

3. Transform the dining experience

We believe that where you eat is just as important as what you eat. That’s why we offer a complete in-house fit-out and design service, transforming school dining spaces into vibrant, inviting environments.

Our Food Court concept introduces pupils to a world of choice, with themed zones such as Street Kitchen, Casa Brasilia, Italian Kitchen and The Toast Office – each with its own menu, inspired by global street food trends and student favourites.

We also handle hatch fit-outs and counter presentation, ensuring that food not only tastes great but looks irresistible too. Schools regularly report a significant increase in meal uptake following a redesign – delivering more revenue.

4. Harness the power of technology

Innovation is in our DNA. We were the first to bring online pre-ordering and cashless payment systems to primary schools – helping to streamline service, reduce queues, and make lunchtimes stress-free. Our digital weigh-out technology ensures the right portion sizes are served and helps schools track and reduce food waste – a key step toward a more sustainable catering operation. By embracing tech, we make it easier for pupils to choose, enjoy and waste less of what’s on their plates.

5. Grow together

We run school gardening clubs, where pupils work alongside experienced gardeners to plant, nurture, and harvest their own vegetables. These fresh ingredients can be used in cooking classes or even incorporated into our Dolce menus, teaching valuable life skills and inspiring pride in homegrown food. It’s hands-on, healthy, and helps children appreciate the journey of food – from soil to school kitchen.

A final hack

We said we’d only do five hacks but here’s a final one to end on – make sure when you market your menus and food offering it speaks your pupil’s language. Social media plays a key role especially amongst secondary school pupils – sharing photos, celebrating theme days, and encouraging students to post their own meal experiences helps drive interest and creates a positive buzz.

Happy National School Meals Week!
The Dolce team