Dear Boris Johnson - this is not what £15 of food looks like. The Free School Meals Scandal.

 Free school lunches are making viral waves across social media in the UK at the moment.  To understand why you have to know that during term time those families whose income falls below a threshold value are entitled to free school meals.  It can be a lifeline especially in these times when the powers that be bring in benefit freezes and can become the only real food a child will get in one day so should be of enough calorific content and also have the nutritional value that they need.  Schools are given a flat rate of £2.30 per child (£11.50 in total) to cover the cost.  At the moment (thanks to a footballer (Marcus Rashford)- not thanks to any politicians most of whom voted against it) the government £15 per child per week which they can either give as vouchers or food parcels to replace this free meal whilst they are at home because the schools are shut.  Food parcels to me points to a suspicion that £15 will not be spent on food but on other expenses by the families involved.  Insulting at best, ignorant at worst.

This is what one such scheme thinks £30 of food (for one main meal for 10 days) looks like.  (source story here)

(From a Tweet by RoadsideMum on 11 January 2021)

Leaving aside the fact that this is not enough food for 10 main meals and snacks for one person lets see how much this would come to in your average supermarket (Tesco online strikes again!)

1 small loaf of bread - 36p for 800g loaf (own brand) - which looks bigger than this but nevermind

8 cheese slices (Creamfields = 10 slices for 50p) - 40p

3 apples (Gala apples £1.60 for 5 pack )- 96p

2 carrots (94p each loose) - 8p

2 bananas (13p each loose)- 26p

1 tin Heinz beans -85p

2 potatoes (loose baking potatoes 25p each) - 50p

1 tomato (75p for 6 pack) -13p

2 mini soreens (lunchbox pack £1.40 for 5) - 56p

1 small bag pasta - even if we are generous and say 500g this is 29p for Tescos own brand

grand total = £4.39

Let me reiterate this is supposed to be worth £30 and for 10 main meals on it's own.  The level of incompetence that would be necessary for this to be a realistic proposition is beyond belief and can only say that Chartwells a private company contracted by the DofE (as in our own Government) who provided this package are lining their pockets are the expense of starving children.

Update where I do my own (virtual) £15 shop for 5 meals to follow!