Eden, part of services provider Interserve, launched its Classroom Cooks initiative to get pupils involved in menu design. The winning creation, the Laremenier’s Chock-A-Block Chicken Wrap, was shared with Ali Hashem, the Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, at the Hammersmith-based school.
The new scheme allows pupils to create, develop, test, evaluate and name an original dish, which then features on all Eden menus across the country.
The aim of the campaign is to help educate pupils on healthy eating, nutrition and cookery and contribute to the food served in schools.
Paul Daly, Eden managing director, said: “Launching Classroom Cooks has truly been a great initiative. Working with the children to find out what food they would like to see on the menu, then encouraging them to think about nutrition and healthy eating is a great way to teach.
“All of the children involved have been really excited to be part of this and it is wonderful to see that we’re helping to make food and healthy eating a part of their lives.
“This event has been a great opportunity to celebrate both Eden’s efforts in offering healthy meals with ingredients that are both locally and ethically sourced, and also the efforts of children from Larmenier and Sacred Heart Primary School in creating such a tasty and original dish.”
The event was also attended by the head teacher Sister Hannah Maria Dwyer, teaching staff and pupils from Larmenier; Lynn Richardson, Timothy Harvey and Yvonne Lenehan from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council; and Katrina Kollegaeva from Food for Life; as well as the team at Eden.
Cllr Hashem presented the pupil council with Classroom Cooks certificates and aprons. Sister Hannah and pupil council co-ordinator Coral Johnson were also presented with a framed Classroom Cooks certificate and framed images of pupils creating the dish.
Kollegaeva talked to the school about the benefits of the Food for Life Catering Mark and the importance of sustainability and ethical sourcing. She then presented Eden with their Silver Catering Mark plaque for their work with Hammersmith and Fulham.