A British schoolgirl has become an internet sensation after she posted pictures of her inadequate school dinners in a blog that has drawn comparisons with Jamie Oliver after he fought for healthy meals.
Martha Payne, nine, posted the series of pictures as part of a writing project she started with her father Dave.
When she first checked her website, called NeverSeconds, late last month to see if she had any reaction, it had received only three hits.
But on Thursday it had become an internet hit and amassed more than 40,000 hits.
People’s shock at the content started it “trending” on Twitter, meaning it became one of the most talked about topics on the micro blogging site.
She has drawn comparisons to the television chef, who has also campaigned for healthy school dinners.
Because her home is on the west coast of Scotland, different standards for school meals apply and improvements throughout Britain appear not to have reached her unidentified school.
With permission from teachers, she photographed her £2 school lunches and wrote about them, posting pictures online every day and adding a rating under her “Food-o-meter.”
Her first picture showed a slice of pizza and a single potato croquette, alongside some sweet corn and a cupcake for dessert.
She wrote: “The good thing about this blog is Dad understands why I am hungry when I get home. Today he made a Banana Loaf, shame I don’t like bananas, see I am not perfect!”
Another picture included a cheeseburger, two potato croquettes, tiny slices of cucumber and a lolly.
Faulty camera thwarted her subsequent attempts to post. Her school has not been identified. Martha, whose mother Rebecca is a GP, began the blog because she is interested in writing.
The schoolgirl, who her father supervises, told the Daily Mail on Thursday: “I was gob smacked. I never expected to get so much interest.” Asked what the food was like, she replied: “It’s usually pretty horrible.”
She added: “I’d like them to serve more, and maybe let some people have seconds if they want to … and not serve stuff that’s a wee bit disgusting.”
Her father said: “It really seems to have touched a nerve. “I joked that it would probably go viral. I really didn’t believe it would.” The school has not commented.
Content contributed and edited by staff member, reported from London, UK, sourced by telegraph.co.uk
