Pembrokeshire County Council is celebrating National School Meals Week this week.
Lennie the Leek, Pembrokeshire's healthy school meals mascot, has been visiting schools across the county, while poster displays and school assemblies have highlighted the service.
This year, the national week-long campaign, which aims to encourage healthy eating, is putting the spotlight on the role of cooks and school dinner ladies.
"Over the decades, school meals have seen many changes and we have worked through them all to provide the same level of high service that pupils have grown to love and expect," said Clr. Huw George, cabinet member for children and young people.
"Key to this service is the role of cooks, many of whom have been with us through decades of change and some of whom have 30 years plus service in our schools," he said.
"They become part of the school and are positive role models for children providing routine, a friendly face and, most importantly, a good balanced meal.
"It's time they got the recognition they deserve."
School meals have been on the menu in Pembrokeshire for almost 70 years and the service still provides 10,000 meals daily.
The service has a dedicated workforce of 350 trained caterers, admin officers and managers, whose tasks vary from purchasing the food - as locally sourced as possible - through to cooking and serving nutritionally balanced meals. They also ensure that school kitchens have immaculate hygiene standards.
All the county's primary menus meet the Welsh Assembly Government's Appetite for Life requirements, while the service also caters for special dietary needs.
Within secondary schools, the healthy eating message is conveyed through The Healthy Schools Scheme in which the Catering Services Department takes an active role by participating in the newly formed School Nutrition Action Groups ( SNAGS ) in order to listen to young peoples' views, likes and dislikes on school food.