Headteacher Kirsten Brown knows how important it is to sow the seeds of a healthy diet early in children’s lives.
She sees it as an immovable commitment to help pupils at Gilbrook School, a maintained special primary school for children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties in Wirral, Merseyside, be the best and lifestyle is front and centre of achieving that.
Ms Brown said: “It is important for healthy eating to be introduced in all areas of children’s lives. We need to give them solid foundations for them to build on so as they progress into adulthood they can continue the healthy habits. This means that it becomes generational, so they pass on these habits to their children.
“Part of the role of schools is to prepare pupils for adulthood and this is just one component of it. As a school we look at the whole child, not just the academic side. We also know that pupils with good diets are able to concentrate better and will achieve more in class, as well as reducing absence.”
Gilbrook is one of 400 schools selected and signed up to the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools initiative, a first-of-its kind scheme that will see 140,000 primary and secondary kids eat at least one piece of fresh fruit or veg every day.
Britain’s biggest retailer has worked with sustainability charity Groundwork and the British Nutrition Foundation to identify schools with the largest percentage of students eligible for free school meals and high pupil premium funding.
Participating schools have been supplied with special gift cards, topped up every two weeks or more if necessary.
The funding allocated to each school is proportionate to the number of pupils it has, ranging from £4,000 to £21,000 annually.
Armed with prepaid cards, schools can visit their nearest Tesco store whenever they like to load up trolleys and buy produce they need to prepare, cook and eat both in and outside class.
And excited Gilbrook pupils were among the first to visit a local Tesco superstore to stock up on a bounty of fresh produce to put smiles on their faces.
The trolley dash was a perfect way to enhance their knowledge of and love for healthy eating. Throughout the year they will be able to pick an abundance of healthy foods, prepare, cook and eat them. It is hoped the hands-on approach will foster a lifelong love of wellness.
Ms Brown said: “We also have a commitment to help young people be as healthy as possible, this is something that we value at Gilbrook and we work hard to promote healthy lifestyles with our pupils through all areas of their life. As part of the curriculum we have topics which cover food and we use this as an opportunity to expand their knowledge of different healthy foods. “However, it is invaluable to be able to work with partners in the community to enhance this part of the curriculum.
“We are hoping that we will be able to embed healthy habits into their everyday life, by giving them an understanding of the wide variety of fruit and veg available in the shops. We also want them to see that it is easy to get hold of the different types and how to incorporate them into their diet.”
Tesco is pumping £4 million into the drive it hopes will give youngsters in some of the most deprived areas across the UK access to delicious produce, guaranteeing they get their five-a-day fix.
Evidence shows significant health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day.
A recommended portion is 80g with the World Health Organisation suggesting we should all eat a minimum of 400g a day in total to lower risk of serious health issues.
Yet data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status, which tracks intake as part of a rolling programme of health surveillance, suggests just 12% of children aged between 11 and 18 meet the recommendation.
Fruit and veg are a relatively cheap and tasty source of essential nutrients for children’s health, including vitamins A and C, folate and fibre.
But many children turn their noses up at a plateful of greens. This new nationwide initiative aims to prove fresh fruit and veg is easy to use, tastes delicious, and can be a physical and mental superpower.
Ms Brown said: “We will use the produce in class as part of healthy eating lessons. This is a normal part of our curriculum. We are lucky to have an amazing cook who really helps us introduce a diverse range of food to our pupils as part of our daily routine. It is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to be involved in.
“I feel strongly feel that young people need to acquire healthy eating habits when they are young. They are more likely to continue this lifestyle into adulthood. It is also important to break the misconception that it is too expensive to eat healthily and supermarkets are ensuring that there is fresh fruit and veg at an affordable price.”
Tesco expects to see pupils’ overall fruit and veg consumption increase by 23%, based on average five-a-day intakes in school-aged children, thanks to the drive.
The strategy, part of Tesco’s Stronger Starts initiative, is led by Claire de Silva, the superarket’s Head of Community, who said: “By focusing on supporting schools and children’s groups to provide the grant funding they need, we can make a significant difference to the lives of thousands of young people, giving them a Stronger Start in so many ways.”
Andrew Gwynne, Public Health and Prevention Minister, said: “With only one-in-five children eating the recommended portions of fruit and veg a day, it’s fantastic to see Tesco’s commitment to helping children access healthier foods.
“We’re committed to giving every child the best start in life, by funding healthy free breakfast clubs across the country, so that pupils start the day with hungry minds – not bellies.”
