From 2 November 2026, primary-school catering in Cardiff will operate under a revised menu designed to meet fresh Welsh Government healthy-eating regulations.
Updated guidance has been shaped by current scientific advice concerning sugar, fibre and processed meat, with the aim of bringing school food into closer alignment with the Eatwell Guide, the UK’s healthy-eating model.
Under the new standards, children will be offered increased quantities of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain foods and plant-based protein sources, including beans and pulses.
The menu will place less emphasis on foods with high sugar levels, processed meats, deep-fried products, sweetened desserts and baked goods.
Caterers will also apply portion sizes suited to younger and older primary pupils.
Macaroni cheese and baked chicken salsa will be added to existing options such as chicken korma, bolognaise, and sausage and mash.
Cllr Sarah Merry, the Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, welcomed the updated standards, stating that they would support children’s access to nutritious, balanced school meals and benefit their health, wellbeing and learning.
She added that Cardiff’s catering team had prepared a menu meeting the regulations while preserving many familiar dishes for pupils.
The city’s provision of Universal Free School Meals for all primary-aged children will continue.
According to Cllr Merry, the programme has already expanded access to healthy food for thousands of children across Cardiff, and the revised menu is expected to build on that progress by offering pupils greater variety and a more nutritious diet.
Parents who wish a child to receive a school meal on a particular day may continue to place an order through their ParentPay account.