Moray pupils tuck into brownies made from peas in new school meals pilot

Pupils across Moray are tucking into a surprising addition to their lunch trays – brownies made with peas – as part of a new school meals pilot project aimed at boosting sustainability and nutrition.

The “Give Peas a Chance” initiative, developed in partnership with the Soil Association, is reimagining the green vegetable by incorporating it into familiar dishes in unexpected ways. The scheme’s ultimate goal is to make school meals healthier and more climate-friendly.

Pupils have also been getting hands-on in the classroom, learning how this environmentally friendly crop travels from field to fork.

Councillor Kathleen Robertson, chair of Moray Council’s education, children’s and leisure services committee, said: “We’re always looking for ways to make school meals more engaging, nutritious and sustainable. This project is a fantastic example of how we can do all three.”

The pilot is already proving popular at Linkwood Primary School in Elgin, where pupils gave the pea-based brownies a thumbs-up after clearing their plates. The reaction?

“Like normal brownies, but better.”

Sarah Gowanlock, partnerships manager at the Soil Association Scotland, added: “We’re delighted to bring this exciting pilot project to Moray, and to bring organic split peas to even more pupils in Scotland’s North East.

“We want to show the power of getting more of these types of high-quality Scottish ingredients on to school meal plates.”