The three-year programme will work with schools and communities with areas of high deprivation and obesity to give children better access to healthy food and an understanding of where our food comes from.
Cllr Matt Golby, cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at WNC, said: “It is great to see this programme launch to encourage a lasting and sustainable change for our children and young people when it comes to picking a healthier food option.
“We know there are many health and wellbeing benefits to eating well, and helping to create greater access and understanding of better food choices is a really positive way of doing this.”
Food for Life has been working with schools across the country for the past 20 years, instilling good food culture through their pioneering awards scheme and high-level accreditation standards. Recent work in Walsall has seen 16,058 pupils benefit from having the Food for Life programme in their school.
School caterers will work towards a Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) Award. FFLSH is a sustainable catering certification that ensures food is at least 75% freshly prepared, uses seasonal ingredients where possible and the School Food Standards are met as a minimum.
Joanne Plater, local programme manager, added: “I’m very excited to be support settings in West Northamptonshire to develop their uniquely positive school food culture using the framework of the Food for Life Schools and Early Years Awards.
“Connecting children with where their food comes from and increasing their knowledge and experience of healthy foods is thing of joy. Food for Life will support targeted settings to make these opportunities accessible to all through a variety of free and individual support.”