Barking and Dagenham Council launches healthy eating scheme across schools

The scheme rewards pupils with points that can be redeemed at local leisure centres and libraries if they make healthy food choices in school. Among the healthy choices are salad, vegetables or fruit juice, in addition to McCain simply wedges and McCain simply dice potato. To support the launch of the scheme McCain Foods has helped to provide additional rewards in the form of iTunes vouchers that can be won in a free prize draw by those making healthy choices. Maureen Lowes, catering services manager for Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "We're committed to providing great tasting appetising food and the reward scheme is a great way to encourage pupils to make healthy choices, lead active lifestyles and help them to understand what constitutes a healthy food and how it benefits them. "We have a whole school approach to healthy eating and incorporating these lessons throughout the school day, and not just within the classroom, is a really effective way to engage pupils and help them to understand how the food they eat can affect their lives." Jo Simmons, McCain Foods senior brand manager, added: "The rewards scheme helps to provide pupils with the information required to make more informed choices, meeting the demand for high street trends and encouraging healthy lifestyles at the same time. In addition, it helps school caterers to drive uptake."