Birmingham pupils showcase their passion for healthy eating, cooking and growing.
More than fifty primary school children from across Birmingham have been showing off their commitment to a healthy lifestyle as part of the Health for Life programme.
Children and staff from twelve schools all met at St Andrews Stadium on Tuesday 3rd July, to showcase and celebrate the work they have done during the last school year, whilst sharing best practice with their fellow Health for Life schools.
Students brought along examples of the fruit, vegetables and herbs they have grown themselves, whilst others demonstrated the recipes and cookery skills they have perfected through the programme.
The idea behind the initiative is to inspire pupils of all ages to get involved in activities which underpin a healthy lifestyle – from growing their own vegetables, to safely preparing food – with one school even raising chickens and using the eggs in cookery. The programme also focuses on promoting a wide range of physical activities and pupils enjoyed trying out the smoothie bike at the event as well as giving an impromptu display of their hula hooping talent.
The Health for Life programme is currently running in 12 primary schools and, since its launch in 2011, has reached 137 primary and secondary schools in the city involving around 52,000 students and reaching 90,000 adults, including school staff and families.
The primary school scheme is funded by Mondelēz International, and delivered by Services For Education. Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, said: “We’ve seen some great examples of healthy cooking, food growing, and family involvement and it’s wonderful to talk to both the pupils and teachers and hear how much they’ve enjoyed taking part in the Health for Life programme and to see the long-term changes that schools have been able to make.”
Dr Sandra Passmore, senior advisor at Services For Education, added: “Our advisors actively work with schools to deliver the Health for Life programme to embed activities in their curriculum which help develop active lifestyles and promote an understanding around the importance of being healthy.
“Events such as these bring people together so that we can recognise their achievements and share healthy living ideas.”
The programme supports activities that engage pupils, school staff and families in growing food, healthy eating and cookery and physical activity, enabling schools to make a wide range of sustainable changes – some of which have included opportunities for the whole family to get involved.
