The group, which includes the Home Grown Cereals Authority, Meat and Livestock Commission, Milk Development Council and the Horticulture Development Council will fund the major learning aid for school children and their teachers (www.foodafactoflife.org.uk). The website has been produced in conjunction with the British Nutrition Foundation.
Its aim is to promote healthy eating to Key stage one and two children via their teachers using a ‘Balance of Good Health Plate’ as its central theme.
“The new website will save teachers and children time scouring the internet looking for details about food production and nutrition. It will be incredibly comprehensive and easy to use. The idea has been warmly welcomed by teachers,” says BPC marketing manager Kathryn Race.
“It is one of a number of activities by the levy bodies designed to promote healthy eating to children and the importance of eating a balanced diet. The potato industry believes it is critical that schoolchildren become more involved with food and how it is produced.”
Curriculum linked worksheets will be available to download by teachers as will interactive tools to create two-way feedback and there will be links to each of the five levy bodies’ websites.
The levy bodies believe the development of this new website will help tackle educational barriers relating to the teaching of food as a source of nutrition and the constituents of a healthy balanced diet.
Combined research by the group confirms the need to educate children particularly in light of the debates about child obesity and the quality of school dinners. What’s more, many mothers are confused as to what constitutes a healthy diet because it is harder to calculate whether families are receiving enough of the right food groups while keeping fat, sugar and salt levels to minimum due to the increased use of convenience foods.
A major communications plan will be implemented to target teachers and the group hopes to have at least 5,000 teachers registered in a year’s time.
Race adds: “the joining of forces by levy bodies creates a formidable alliance and highlights the dedication of food producers for getting children involved with food and encouraging practical food skills.
“Each organisation is able to draw on the combined skills and resources and extensive third party support to help funds stretch much further and reach more children,” she explains.
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