Scotch College

Catering for all tastes

Good nutrition is a 'SNAP' in the Scotch boarding house. Think of boarding house food, and traditional images of stodgy puddings and Oliver Twist's plea for 'more' may come to mind.

The reality is very different - in the Scotch boarding house, anyway. A glance at one week's menu (reproduced on this page) reveals that a variety of interesting and nutritious meals awaits the discerning palates of our hungry boarders.

Each day the chefs prepare more than 600 meals, ranging from roasts on Sunday evenings to 'theme nights', where Thai, Chinese or American food might be served.

According to Catering Manager, Mika Verosaari, nutrition is everything. 'We run the dining room under the Spotless Nutritional Analysis Program, or 'SNAP',' Mika told Great Scot. 'This means that we plan menus four weeks ahead and measure them against 'SNAP' to make sure all the food groups are consistently covered, and meals are appropriate for growing boys living a vigorous lifestyle,' Mika said.

A typical day's meals consist of hot and cold breakfasts, 'eat-in' or packed lunches, and a choice of two main courses for dinner. Cooked and salad vegetables and steamed rice are served with lunches and dinners and fruit is always available in the Dining Hall. The emphasis is on fresh food, with fruit, vegetables and meat delivered four times a week to the Hill.

'We meet regularly with the Captain of the Hill to discuss meal suggestions, and if most of the boys tell us they don't like a particular dish, we avoid serving it again,' Mika said. 'We also cater for boys with special dietary requirements for health or religious reasons.'

Boys can take snack foods such as muesli bars, biscuits and fruit bars to school or to their rooms. And, as the army of hungry boarders returns to the Hill on Friday at 3pm, afternoon tea of sandwiches or cakes awaits them.

If all that that isn't enough to satisfy the sometimes incredible appetites of growing boys, supper baskets of toasted cheese sandwiches, fruit, muffins and Milo are available for them to enjoy in their houses while studying or reading.

House matrons keep a watchful eye on any boys who appear not to be eating properly. 'We do try to help boys who are for any reason particular about their food,' Mika said.

There are a number of special dinners throughout the year, including formal dinners once a term with guest speakers, Year 12 valedictory dinners and regular barbecues out on the lawn.

Boarders can invite day students for meals in the dining room, and boarders' parents are always welcome to any meal. 'We invite parents just to turn up unannounced,' Mika said. 'That way they can experience the dining room as it really is, without feeling that any special arrangements have been made for their visit.'

David Ashton