Ready-to-eat salad supplier association, the Fresh Prepared Salads Producer Group, has launched a campaign to target healthy eating in schools.

As part of the programme, pupils aged seven to 10 will be taught the history of salads and how they are grown locally, as well as where they are grown around the world.

In addition they will be shown different varieties of salad leaves and taught how to make some simple dressings before having a tasting session conducted by a home economist.

Throughout the summer, farmers from salad-producing areas around the UK will be visiting a number of schools in each area.

The practical and informative presentation has been designed to tie in with elements of National Curriculum Key Stage 2.

A survey looking at children’s attitudes to food, healthy eating and exercise is also being carried out as part of the campaign.

Members of the Fresh Prepared Salads Group include Geest, Natures Way Foods, Kanes Foods, Florette and Vitacress Salads.

Group representative Kip Winter-Cox said: “People in the UK are becoming more health conscious and childhood nutrition in particular has been put in the spotlight by increasing concerns about childhood obesity and campaigns such as Jamie Oliver’s healthy school meal programme.

“We aim to draw people’s attention to the subject of nutrition and show how bagged salads can make a significant contribution to our recommended daily allowance of many essential vitamins and minerals.”

Other ongoing campaigns around the importance of 5 A Day include a recipe booklet entitled “Are You Getting Enough” featuring advice from a crack team of experts, The Salad Squad, consisting of celebrity chef Lesley Waters, nutritionist Fiona Hunter and fitness expert Nicki Waterman.

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