Organisations representing more than 9,000 chefs have volunteered to go into schools during British Food Fortnight (September 22 to October 7) to teach children how to cook - in what is being billed as the biggest ever mass movement geared to educating children about food.
British Food Fortnight claims to have overtaken France's long-running Semaine du Gout that sends chefs into French schools every October to teach children about the delights of their national cuisine.
“One of the reasons that the number of children eating school meals has fallen since the government introduced healthier food is that it has not been accompanied by lessons in food and nutrition1,” said Alexia Robinson, organiser of the event. “Imagine if Jamie Oliver could visit every school in the country to get children excited about food - well 9,000 Jamies are on offer to help schools during British Food Fortnight.
British Food Fortnight's Cook for Life Challenge is looking for schools that incorporate cookery in their curriculum activities in imaginative and innovative ways. Prizes will be awarded to the best six schools in each region.
“Schools wanting to recruit their own Jamie Oliver - and to win Kenwood cooking equipment - can go to www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk. Contact details of chef and catering organisations committed to working with schools during British Food Fortnight can be found in the Teacher Zone section of the site,” said Robinson.