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Cooking up a healthier generation - Chisholm announces £197,000 for kids' cooking pilot -
12/06/2001
Young cooks in 42 Scots primary schools are to receive lessons in healthy cooking and baking, under a new Focus on Food pilot scheme, funded by a £197,300 grant from the Scottish Executive Health Department.
The two-year pilot in Clackmannan and North Lanarkshire will involve teachers in eight secondary schools, working with local primary schools to help promote healthy eating through practical teaching, learning and cooking.
Announcing details of the scheme during Focus on Food Week, the Deputy Health Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, said:
"Improving the health of our children is a top priority for the Executive and a key part of that commitment is ensuring that they can learn from the lessons of the past.
"If Scotland is to truly end its unenviable reputation as one of the unhealthiest nations in the Western World, then we must teach children at an early age not just about the benefits of healthy eating but how to cook well-balanced meals.
"The Scottish Health Survey, published in December 2000, highlighted some improvement's in the eating habits of both Scots children and adults. Initiatives like the Focus on Food pilot scheme, will enable us to build on that and work with key partners towards achieving our targets on diet, laid down in the Scottish Diet Action Plan 'Eating for Health'.
"Through this initiative, secondary school home economics teachers, trained by the Focus on Food Team, will support the professional development of primary school colleagues to help them promote a healthy approach to eating in children from an early age.
"I look forward to hearing about the development of the scheme and am confident that both children and teachers will welcome the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile initiative.
"It therefore gives me great pleasure to announce the additional funding for this project."
Deputy Education Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"Everyone needs to understand the importance of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. Taking this message into primary schools means the youngest children will benefit the most.
"We need to develop a 'whole school' approach to the teaching of nutrition, healthy eating and food safety. Top quality educational support materials will be a key element of the project's success"
Support and aftercare for primary teachers will be included in the scheme, and a Curriculum Development Officer seconded from one of the pilot local authorities will help implement practical food work.
Anita Cormac, Director of the Focus on Food Campaign, welcomed today's announcement.
"Focus on Food is delighted to be working closely with the Scottish
Executive and teachers in Scotland, and to play a key role in shaping healthy eating patterns through practical food education in Scottish primary schools."
BACKGROUND
The Focus on Food Initiative, supported by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA), aims to raise the profile of practical teaching and learning in primary schools to support and develop healthy eating and cooking skills in young children.
The Focus on Food initiative is well known for its huge expandable cooking bus which converts into a food classroom. This vehicle is fully equipped for practical food preparation and cooking and can be used by either groups of teachers or pupils.
The total cost of the pilot will be £197,300 (£130,300 in the first and £67,000 in the second year) and is being funded through the Scottish Diet Action Plan, which has an annual budget of £1m.
All schools in Scotland have been invited to participate in Focus on Food Week (11-15 June), which has the 'Let's Bake It!' Tastebud Challenge as the focus for activities - a nation-wide bake-in for schools with an emphasis on critical appraisal.
News Release: SE1399/2001
12 Jun 2001