The Department of
Health has been running the Food in Schools scheme which is tackling
the problem of unhealthy diets on several fronts. It is piloting
ways of creating and funding healthier breakfast clubs, tuck shops,
vending machines and lunch boxes, as well as improving dining rooms,
setting up cookery and food growing clubs, and upping the amount
of water kids drink. There are lots of useful resources on the Department of Health website.
Under the School Fruit and Veg scheme, during 2005, all 4-6-year-olds in state schools will become entitled to a daily free fruit or vegetable snack. If your children are older, ask the school tuck shop to stock fresh fruit alongside other snacks.
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Ask your school to organise a trip to an organic farm so children can learn more about the realities of food production. Farms too far away? Try an online organic farm trail.
Exercise is just as vital as a good diet for healthy kids. Under the walking bus scheme, children and parent-helpers walk along set routes to and from school. It's free, fun, doesn't clog the roads or pollute the atmosphere, and gives everyone some useful exercise.
Build more activity into your child's life. Encourage daily outdoor play by providing inexpensive toys like balls, rope swings, frisbees and skipping ropes. Consider getting a dog. Take children to see live sport to inspire them to have a go themselves. Rope them in to help with active household jobs: cleaning the car, vacuuming, washing floors. And set a good example. Kids aren't likely to think about doing more physical activity if their parents are total couch potatoes.
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After-school cookery clubs are great places to learn how to conjure up healthy and delicious meals. The British Nutrition Foundation has lots of useful information about setting up a club.
Eating should be an enjoyable social experience as well as a treat for the taste buds. Once your school meals have improved, you could suggest inviting parents into school regularly to eat with children or setting up a pensioners lunch club where children and older people can enjoy chatting over a meal.
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