FEEDING 122 kids with specialist sensory requirements would be daunting for most chefs.
But not for Tracy Nwabia, who has spent 13 years improving the meals of at Spa School in Bermondsey, South London.
Our School Chef champ Tracy Nwabia’s menu consists of everything from dahls to jollof rice and lentil lasagne Credit: Darren Fletcher
Winner Tracy in the kitchen with assistants Stella and Abi Credit: Darren Fletcher
And that is why she’s won gong in .
When presented with the trophy, overwhelmed mum-of-five Tracy wiped away tears.
She said: “I’m just speechless. I can’t believe I’ve won.
“I’m a mother and I just treat the children the way I would want mine to be treated. For some, their lunch might be the only healthy hot meal they have that day.
“Everyone here has different needs so we cater to them. Some want their food separate, some don’t like certain textures and so on.
“We’ll always give them what they want and help them try new foods.”
The school is meat-free and Tracy, from Rotherhithe, is determined to get as many pupils as possible off packed lunches and on to nutritious school dinners.
“Some kids would have very little in their packed lunches,” said Tracy, who is supported in the kitchen by Abi and Stella.
“It would be breadsticks, cold chicken nuggets, cheese sandwiches every day.
“So to try to expand what they eat, I’ll give them little plates of what we were serving that day to get them to try it.
“We had one student who would only eat cheese sandwiches, and we kept encouraging her to try new foods, and then she started scraping the plate to get everything because she liked the food that much.
“Another would only have pizza, but I’ve persuaded her to try new foods and now she comes up for seconds.
Tracy serves another meal to an eager pupil Credit: Darren Fletcher
Tracy being presented with the award by head Georgina Quigley Credit: Darren Fletcher
“Things like this make me feel like I’m doing my job. It’s amazing.”
Her menu consists of everything from dahls to jollof rice and lentil lasagne — all of which are a hit with the pupils.
And the parents have seen the difference first-hand. Nadine had struggled to get her daughter Maya to try new foods.
But since starting at Spa in September, the 12-year-old has been asking her mum to take tips from Tracy.
Nadine said: “Tracy has really helped my daughter to grow in confidence with food. Before, meal times were quite difficult.
“She’s autistic and a very fussy eater, so we’d stick to the same safe foods to make sure she ate.
“But since being here, she’s happy trying different foods — and Tracy has done that in such a relaxed way it didn’t feel like a big deal.
“Now Maya tells me off for making some things not as healthy as school food. I cook some of Tracy’s recipes at home.”
Jamie Oliver launched The Good School Food Awards three years ago because he wanted to champion excellence in school meals Credit: Getty
Tracy has spent 13 years improving the meals of autistic children at Spa School in Bermondsey, South London Credit: Darren Fletcher
launched , three years ago because he wanted to champion excellence in school meals.
said: “Tracy is everything these awards stand for — delivering caring, generous, brilliant service in schools, so that kids can go off into their future, full, in every sense.
“From working with individual students to grow their confidence in trying new foods, to creating fully accessible menus and driving school food uptake to over 94 per cent, Tracy’s patience and dedication to the students makes her an unbelievably deserving winner of The Sun’s Chef Champion Award 2026.”
The awards were judged by a celebrity panel including , , , , plus Gladiators (Fire) and (Steel).
Praising the incredible school chef, Dani said: “As a mum, I know that getting children excited about healthy food isn’t easy. What Tracy has created is special because she’s made food something pupils genuinely look forward to.
“She should be really proud.”
Education Secretary said: “Tracy has spent 13 years showing great school food is about more than nutrition. It can be joyful, inclusive and a big part of the school experience.
“For pupils with autism and complex sensory needs, food can be difficult, and the fact Tracy has built trust and excitement around mealtimes is a testament to her skill.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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