Let’s talk about food in the UK boarding schools

15th September 2020

Many are concerned when it comes to food in the UK, worrying it won’t suit their taste, or assuming it tastes disgusting. I’ve been eating boarding school meals for more than half a year, so what exactly do we eat at boarding school?

Take breakfast for example, the full English breakfast is the commonly served at boarding school. With bacon, sausage, egg, tomato, baked beans, mushrooms and buttered toast, you can choose the dishes and the portion. Special dietary requirements such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, can be met. There are breakfast cereal, oatmeal, and fruit for those who prefer other options than the full English breakfast. Once in awhile the kitchen staff will bake cinnamon rolls, chocolate croissants and pancakes. My favourite breakfast foods to have every day are mushrooms, egg, tomato and bacon. Starting the day with a hearty breakfast and a cup of coffee, and good conversations over the breakfast table leave me in a productive and happy mood for the rest of the day.

Students look forward to lunch after a busy morning of lessons, and the chef will prepare a variety of main courses, salad, soup, bread and dessert. There are usually two to three main course options, mostly meat and carbohydrates combo, and a vegetarian option. Baked potato with butter and cheese is also available in case you do not fancy any of the main course of the day. The salad bar has an abundant selection of vegetables, eggs, cheese, and occasionally tuna, ham and other cold dishes. If you are still hungry, a rich bowl of soup with some freshly baked bread will definitely hit the spot. However, home-baked bread is not provided every day, but you can still get white toast. Dessert after lunch is highly anticipated and consists of many favourites of British students, such as fruit pie, Eton mass, mousse, brownies with a pour-over custard for you to go with the dessert… I’m not a huge fan, yet the local British students love their desserts very much. Fruit is also an option but bears in mind that each student is entitled to one dessert per meal to make sure everyone has a share. The school meal plan keeps students nourished and healthy, as the menus are carefully planned and designed by the kitchen staffs. While everyone’s taste and preference varies, the meal is nutritionally balanced and meets the major nutrients we need in a day.

Don’t be confused – the “tea” we have at boarding school is actually early dinner. Normally, only boarding students will have tea, but some day-school students will eat tea if they stay at school till late for activities, and their parents will pay an additional fee. There are less students in the canteen during tea time, and the food is similar to what is offered at lunch, with meat, vegetables and carbs in the main course, and salad and dessert. I enjoy tea time mostly because there is no rush to eat, and I can have my preference for more veggies and less rice. It’s quite warm that the kitchen staff remembers everyone’s taste and food portions, and cooks based on our food preferences, and deliver our meals personally. To boarding students, six o’clock is the most enjoyable time of the day, when we have tea slowly and luxuriously chat with friends about what happened during the day.

If tea is not enough, you can get bread, milk and cheese in the boarding house kitchen to ease your hunger. Don’t be shy to let the school know if you have yet adapted to British food, I assure they will gladly arrange special meal plans for you.

Does the British boarding school food meet your expectations after our introduction? Do you want to know more about boarding school life in the UK?

To learn more information about studying abroad in the UK, please feel free to contact our education consultancy team.