Sunderland schools pilot healthy project

TdaNews Direct
Published: 10 October, 2008

A healthy food pilot is being pioneered in Sunderland, with ten schools taking part in the push to grow their own vegetables for healthy recipes, it has emerged.

In conjunction with the Food in Schools programme, Sunderland's Healthy Schools group is giving children in the city packs for the Growing Club, an initiative which provides teachers with support through lesson plans, growing instructions, outdoor learning ideas and recipes for any food produced.

Councillor Kath Rolph agreed with the scheme, adding that the nurture of healthy fruit and vegetables was a great opportunity for children to get to grips with the growing process, as well as getting a sense of achievement out of their produce.

"Involving children in practical lessons like this provides one of the most effective ways of increasing their appreciation of tasty, fresh food and what healthy eating means in practice," she told the Sunderland Echo.

This month, Fulwell Junior School in Sunderland is celebrating its 100th birthday through 100 initiatives which it hopes will link in with the curriculum.