While children’s sugar intakes have declined slightly in recent years, they are still consuming around eight extra sugar cubes each day, equivalent to around 2,800 excess sugar cubes per year.
Now PHE has developed dedicated English and Maths teaching resources for primary schools across England, to help pupils and their families understand how much sugar is in their food and drink.
They also aim to teach them about making healthier swaps to reduce their sugar intake.
It is hoped this will complement the national campaign encouraging parents to ‘make a swap when you next shop’, to help families enjoy healthier versions of the foods and drinks they are currently consuming.
Jon Moorhouse, deputy headteacher at St Saviour C of E Primary School in Bolton said: “These new resources help children realise just how much sugar is in everyday foods and drinks. They are high quality, adaptable and can be used in other areas of the curriculum like Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), English, Maths and Science.
“Being more sugar smart empowers children to help themselves and their families make healthier choices. This could have a big impact on children’s health for the rest of their lives.”
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, said: “Children are consuming too much sugar and obesity is a very real threat to their health. Educating them on the importance of a healthy balanced diet in their early years can help them avoid serious illness in future.
“By making simple swaps each day, children can have healthier versions of everyday foods and drinks, while significantly reducing their sugar intake.”
While parents are encouraged to make healthier choices for the whole family, schools can also play an important role in children’s health, as part of a broader wellbeing programme.
Developed with teachers, the new English lesson plans introduce pupils to the characters of ‘Sugar Smart World’ through fun, interactive PowerPoints, pupil-led activities, recipe ideas from around the world and a new video.
Change4Life Maths lesson plans will reinforce healthier swaps, while including important problem solving skills using addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.
Too much sugar can cause preventable health problems. Over a third (34%) of children are leaving primary school overweight or obese, and severe obesity in ten to eleven year olds has now reached an all-time high. More young people than ever before are also developing Type 2 diabetes, and every ten minutes a child in England has a rotten tooth removed in hospital.
To get involved with Change4Life, schools and teachers can:
• Look out for the Sugar Smart World take-home packs arriving in schools from mid-late January.
• Search ‘Change4Life/schools’ online or visit the School Zone to access the new resources for schools.
• Sign up to the School Zone to be the first to hear about new teaching resources launching later this year to help embed healthier habits in your school.