Over a hundred pupils from Bexhill primary schools are having their say about school food AND learning more about healthy eating at the Bexhill School Food Conference on Wednesday 14th October at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill.
125 youngsters from 8 local schools will be given the opportunity to explore some thought provoking ideas about improving school food.
For example, the Food Standards Agency will introduce pupils to the concept of 'traffic light' food labelling, with red representing foods you should only have every now and again, whilst green stands for healthy options you can enjoy as often as you like.
The School Food Trust, as well as school meal caterers, Chartwells, will also be on hand, whilst the Soil Association will be promoting the importance of sourcing and eating more locally produced food to reduce food miles.
The aim of the conference is to help schools understand that eating healthy food in a calm and relaxed environment can improve pupil behaviour and learning, and tackle the growing problem of obesity.
To help schools pupils and teachers will be invited to develop school food action plans.
These could include changes to the lunchtime 'experience' to help reduce noise, congestion and queuing, as well as including more food based activities in the curriculum and setting up breakfast clubs and encouraging healthy snacks.
“It’s all about getting the whole school on board.” says Paul Aagaard, Food in Schools Specialist for East Sussex.
“This means winning the hearts and minds of all members of the school community - pupils, teachers, the midday supervisors, caterers and parents - to recognise the vitally important role that food plays in youngsters health, behaviour and development."
A number of midday lunch supervisors will have their say at the conference to share best practice, and discuss ways in which the lunchtime experience can be improved.
To get pupils working with the school meals caterers, Chartwells, and to give them an opportunity to directly influence the menu, an oily fish dish recipe competition has been launched as part of this project.
The winning entry will get their recipe placed on the school meal menu which is served in 160 East Sussex primary schools.
