Today, the reach of nutritional information is further than it has ever been before. Lots of people claim to be an expert and more people want to know the nutritional value of their food, what’s in it and where it comes from.
This is becoming particularly noticeable in the education sector where school caterers are met with providing meals for children with all sorts of dietary needs. In years gone by, these children may not have been able to have school meals, but with nutrition and allergen software and the support of qualified nutritionists and dietitians, it is possible support most dietary requirements within schools and other educational settings.
Sadly, food allergies are commonplace. This starts with the recognised 14 food allergens but also extends onto others such as garlic, tomato, kiwi fruit and lentils to name a few. It’s not all about food allergies though, catering in schools now covers special diets too. This would include catering for pupils with intolerances, food choices such as vegan and vegetarian diets, religious meals, diets suitable for children with phenylketonuria (PKU) and probably most commonly calculating carbohydrates for those with type 1 diabetes.
What are carbohydrate counts?
Counting carbohydrates is an easy way for those with type 1 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates break down into a simple sugar known as glucose for the body to use as energy. When we consume carbohydrates, the body recognises this, and the hormone insulin is released by the pancreas to bring blood sugar back to normal levels. This is a standard body response to consuming carbohydrates. However, in individuals with type 1 diabetes they do not produce any insulin meaning levels of sugar in the blood spike and cannot be brought back to normal on their own. Having too much sugar within the blood isn’t healthy and can cause short and long-term health complications. To overcome this, those with type 1 diabetes can inject insulin to manage their blood sugar levels themselves after eating or drinking – provided they know how many grams of carbohydrates they have consumed.
Type 2 diabetes is different to type 1 diabetes. It commonly occurs in adults rather than children and is managed with diet, physical activity and medication. It is a chronic condition resulting from long-term insulin resistance and the pancreas not being able to produce enough insulin to support the sugar in the blood. The exact cause of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is unknown however it is likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There are many lifestyle factors which can positively affect type 2 diabetes such as physical activity and consuming a healthy diet with lots of wholegrains and fibre as well as maintaining a healthy weight.
Which foods contain carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are found in foods in every household and almost every meal, even in small amounts. However, when we discuss carbohydrates as a macronutrient for those with diabetes, we are generally looking at the main sources. So, this means foods and beverages which contain a large proportion of carbohydrates. This includes both starchy and sugary foods.
All the foods below sit in this category, and, while this list is not exhaustive, most carbohydrate-containing foods, if not mentioned here, will sit in one of these categories.
Bread, bagels, crumpets, wraps, naans, croissants potatoes, chips, crisps, pasta, noodles, rice, couscous biscuits, savoury crackers, crispbread, popcorn, pizza, pancakes, pastry, baked beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, sweetcorn, lentils, cakes and puddings, sweets and chocolates, fruit (fresh, dried, frozen or tinned in its own juice), fruit juice, milk, milk puddings, custard, ice-cream, yoghurt and fromage frais.
Which foods don’t contain carbohydrates?
There are, of course, foods which don’t contain carbohydrates, and these are outlined below.
– Protein: meat, fish, eggs and cheese provided they are not coated in batter or breadcrumbs (e.g. fish fingers, chicken nuggets).
– Vegetables and salad: the only vegetables which contain a high level of carbohydrate are peas, baked beans and sweetcorn – the others should all be encouraged as they contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
– Drinks: water, ‘no added sugar’ squash and ‘diet’ drinks.
Remember, you are looking for the total amount of carbohydrate in the food, not just the sugars.
You also need to know how much of the food will be eaten.
Or food can be weighed and estimated.
How can schools count carbohydrates?
Within schools and school catering, the most common method is to use recipe and allergen software which automatically calculates nutritional data based on a recipe. All foods have a set of nutritional standards which is the data nutritionists and dietitians work with to extract nutritional information. This data set is used when creating recipes and is also what you’ll find on food packaging. It calculates the nutritional composition of food and drinks based on the weight of each ingredient. It also considers the cooking method. For carbohydrates, this is important as their weight changes when cooked. Recipe and allergen software can also provide schools with Natasha’s Law compliant food labels, pulling nutritional information straight from the source or supplier.
When the meal is served portion control is also key. Portions are generally pre-determined by the school chef to work out ingredient quantities and cost of a dish. When it comes to serving these meals, it’s straightforward as the work has been done during the cooking process. For those meals being served to children with type 1 diabetes it may be beneficial to weigh out their portions using digital scales to ensure they are as exact as possible.
The amount of carbohydrate ingested will also come down to how much of the meal is consumed, and this should be considered by parents and caterers when planning meals for children and young adults.
Schools that are actively working on counting carbohydrates will be giving parents peace of mind that their child or children can safely eat with their friends at school. It alleviates the pressure a child might feel from not being able to enjoy food in a social setting as well as taking something off the to do list in the form of a packed lunch. This process takes a lot of time and care, and conversations should be had between the school caterer and the parents to ensure the exact needs of the pupil can be met. It’s also important to open up lines of communication to ensure everyone understands the process and requirements for such a special diet to work in practice.
Another useful resource for carbohydrate counting
Another handy resource for counting carbohydrate content in children’s favourite foods is Carbs and Cals. This guide can help you estimate the carbohydrate content when nutritional information isn’t easily available. Carbs and Cals has a big database with lots of foods, complete with pictures and portion sizes, so you can quickly and easily get the information you need.
Safe meal planning for schools
Whether you have an in-school kitchen team or you outsource to a school catering company, utilising recipe, nutrition, and allergen software provides an effective and efficient way to access and share essential nutritional information. By automatically calculating the nutritional content of school meals, including carbohydrate values, nutrition and allergen software ensures that schools can easily and accurately track the nutritional content of their school meals. This not only helps in managing dietary needs but also supports compliance with food safety regulations like Natasha’s Law. School catering software can also help catering teams share recipes and cooking methods with other schools within the same group. This helps with the speed, consistency, and quality of each school meal.
With IndiCater, schools can confidently provide school meals that meet various dietary requirements, giving parents peace of mind and allowing children to safely enjoy their meals at school alongside their friends. This catering software support, combined with open communication between parents and school caterers, ensures a more accurate, efficient, and safer approach to managing dietary needs and improving the overall well-being of students. Reach out to the IndiCater team if you wish to discuss how your team can benefit from utilising school nutrition, and allergen software.
