The East London 5-a-day project was launched this week following a grant by the New Opportunities Fund. The project aims to increase the availability of fruit and vegetables across Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney.
To mark the launch three schools from the area were invited to compete in a "Ready Steady Cook" competition, entitled "Ready Steady Fruit" judged by celebrity chef Steven Saunders.
Jane Winder, chairperson of City and Hackney Primary Care Trust, hosted the event and is delighted with the project. She said: "This is a important effort to make a valuable change to the diet of young people." Oona King, Labour MP for Tower Hamlets, agreed wholeheartedly with Winder's sentiments urging the children to eat healthily. "Nothing is more important than what we eat, a healthy diet is essential to our lives."
A range of initiatives have been developed for the scheme. A mobile food shop, which has taken three years to develop, will take to the road next month. It aims to assist residents who have difficulties travelling to shops and those who live in areas where there are no shops selling quality produce.
The Newham Food Access Partnership is providing three fruit tuck-shops in schools to promote the 5-a-day message. The tuck-shops will improve the access to fruit for school pupils and will be run in part by the children.
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