There will be lots of happy faces about today as pupils Get Giggling during school lunchtime

Pupils and students will have fun on the menu today as they enjoy a healthy and delicious school meal as part of National School Meals Week (NSMW). They can download fun food masks to hide behind, they can colour one in or make their own.

Online at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk children will be telling their own jokes and in some schools they will be having fun theme days. The Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) has been organising NSMW since 1993 and it is one of the biggest healthy eating promotions in the country. The week is supported by the Partners of LACA who are the major suppliers of food and drink to school caterers in the UK".

Organiser of the week for LACA is Arnold Fewell. Arnold is Managing Director of AVF Marketing, he said, "This week has been a huge success with more authorities and schools taking part than ever before. Extra marketing materials have been downloaded this year and lots of people have visited the website at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk. School meals now meet strict nutritional standards and have changed for the better in recent years. They are an important part of the whole school day and play a vital role in educating young people about the role of healthy eating and having a balance between the right food and taking regular exercise. These are life skills that will stay with young people for all their life and this
is why NSMW is such an important week in the school year".

Irene Carroll, former Chair of LACA, added, "I must say thank you from LACA for all the hard work and enthusiasm that school caterers, teachers and pupils across the country have put into the week. The support has been fantastic by both members and non members of LACA. I have heard and read about everything that is going on and I think this has been the biggest and best NSMW we have ever had. Now this week is over we start planning for next year and that week will take place from 7th to 11th November 2011".