The campaign, which is being jointly undertaken with children’s food writer and broadcaster, Fiona Faulkner, aims to persuade children to ‘take two’ of their 5-a-day in their school lunch.
New research by the CFT has shown that despite the progress made with fruit and vegetable provision in schools as part of the requirement of the Government’s Nutritional Standards for school lunches, more work is required to persuade children to choose and eat them. Interviews conducted by Fiona Faulkner also revealed children’s lack of knowledge of what certain fruit and vegetables are and where they come from.
Commenting on the findings of the CFT research and the new campaign, Lynda Mitchell, LACA National Chair said: “LACA and its members are supportive of any initiative which aims to encourage the selection and consumption of healthier options and which helps children and young people to progress towards achieving their 5-a-day target for fruit and vegetables.
“The Nutritional Standards for school lunches ensure that school caterers make available a range of nutritious food choices every day and that includes salads, vegetables and fruit.
“Vegetables are also incorporated into both main courses and desserts and a fruit based pudding is on offer daily. However, the challenge for all front line school caterers is about turning ‘provision into consumption’.
“Whilst healthy options such as fruit and vegetables are available, it does not mean they are selected by pupils and students.
“School caterers encourage the selection of fruit and vegetables and have used ingenious means of incentivising trial – everything from fun promotions to new creative dishes and tastings.
“Getting healthier choices, such as fruit and vegetables, personally chosen by the pupils or students themselves and on to the plate is key to increasing the chance of them being eaten.
“The findings of Fiona Faulkner’s interviews with children on their awareness of different fruit and vegetables and where they come from, won’t come as any surprise to school caterers, cooks and front line staff in school kitchens.
“The fact that that there have been several generations of parents who have missed out on cookery education at school, has resulted in their children not being familiar with many foods or knowing where they come from.
“From school caterers to food manufacturers, restaurateurs and teachers, we all have an important part to play in educating children about the role of fruit and vegetables in a healthy diet.
“Also, more needs to be done to increase parents’ awareness of how their children’s academic and physical performance, as well as their longer term health, can benefit by them encouraging more fruit and vegetable consumption on a daily basis.
“LACA, along with many other campaigners, have been calling on the Government to increase food education and cookery lessons in schools.
“Where schools and caterers have tried to educate children and young people about different foods and who have run cookery clubs or grow their own fruit and vegetables, awareness of healthy eating has increased and better food choices are being made at lunch times.”