Burger buns are back on the school dinners menu.

Changes to primary school meals introduced at the start of the school year last year were aimed at giving youngsters the chance to enjoy healthier, tastier and more locally sourced meals.

But there was criticism from many parents that their children were coming home hungry.

The menu featured four times more fresh Manx produce, and a big cut in ultra-processed food with the Department for Education, Sport and Culture hailing a ‘fresh start for school meals’.

Curiously it resulted in burgers being served without a bap.

Ketchup and mayonnaise were no longer an option - although mayo was soon put back on the menu after children complained about having to eat dry tuna in a wrap or jacket potato.

Out too, much to many kids’ dismay, were puddings - to be replaced by a selection of fruit and an optional glass of whole Manx milk.

Now the provisional primary school menu for the new school year starting in September has been released - and it features a Manx beef burger in a Manx bap with baked beans.

Other dishes includes gammon served with Manx gravy, roast potatoes and broccoli, fahita chicken in a Manx wrap, Manx meatballs, and tempura chicken with katsu curry sauce.

There’s an extra dessert option too - with natural yoghurt, mixed berries and honey.

And there are ‘termly’ treats - Christmas shortbread biscuits in December, banana pancakes on one day in February, Easter flapjack and vanilla sponge cake on July 23.

Critics say the return of the burger bun just goes to shows that giving healthy food to children is no use if they don’t eat it.

The primary school meals service provides around half a million meals a year to 31 schools.

Cost of a school meal was kept at £2.55 a day when the new menu was introduced last year.