The foundations for lifelong healthy living are laid at school, a passionate headteacher says.
And learning about positive relationships with food is crucial in an age where children are enticed with temptation at every turn and obesity is a clear and present danger.
It may seem an uphill battle, but at Rimrose Hope Church of England Primary School in Liverpool the results are encouraging.
Lawrence Crilly said: “We prefer to nudge children in the right direction by offering them the opportunities to try the things they like while at the same time emphasising how one choice is better for them than another. Children are more likely to carry these habits into adulthood, which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases later in life.”
Children at the school, which has 349 pupils aged between 2 and 11, are among 140,000 in primary and secondary establishments across Britain eating at least one piece of fresh fruit or veg a day thanks to the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools initiative.
The retail giant’s £4 million scheme identified 400 schools in some of the most deprived areas with the aim of giving kids access to fresh and nutritious produce. It was launched last month by celebrity chef Poppy O’Toole in partnership with the Daily Express.
The funding allocated to each school is proportionate to the number of pupils it has, ranging from £4,000 to £21,000 annually.
Each is given a prepaid card allowing them to visit their nearest Tesco store whenever they like to load up with mountains of fruit and veg to prepare both in and outside of the classroom.
Outstanding-rated Rimrose Hope has 173 pupils – or 55.8% of its intake – eligible for free school meals.
Mr Crilly said: “I’ve definitely seen the impact that poor nutrition can have on children’s performance and attentiveness in the classroom. When students don’t eat well, whether it’s skipping meals or not getting the right balance of nutrients, it shows in their behaviour and ability to focus.
“For instance, children who come to school without eating breakfast often struggle to stay alert, especially during morning lessons. They might seem lethargic or easily distracted, and their ability to concentrate for long periods diminishes. I’ve noticed these students are also more likely to complain about headaches or stomach aches, which can disrupt their learning. Their education can be affected simply through the disruption caused by the need to go and find something for them to eat, and the time it takes them to eat it.
“Not eating well can also affect their mood. Some students might become irritable or restless, making it harder for them to participate in group activities or follow instructions. Over time, I’ve seen how it can lead to gaps in their understanding of material because they’re not fully engaged.
“Good nutrition fuels the brain, and when students are lacking that fuel, it’s clear in how they perform academically and socially. When I’ve spoken to parents and staff about this, and we’ve worked together to make sure the children are eating better, and often, their attention and performance in class improve noticeably.”
Rimrose Hope, established in September 2008, has made its mission to teach pupils the importance of eating fruit and veg over sugary treats in the hope of setting them up for a healthy future.
It offers Early Years and Infant children the option of a healthy snack and has witnessed huge improvements in concentration, memory, and academic performance.
The school has an orchard, so children can learn about growing fruit, and its own kitchen. It offers fruit & veg, and salad, at every mealtime as an additional option with teachers noticing how children will choose healthy options if they are available.
It runs the Good Grub, an after school club, which teaches children how to cook and prepare healthy food at home, and introduces healthy eating through activities like cooking classes where children get hands-on experience preparing simple, nutritious meals or smoothies.
Yet despite daily battles, there is hope, and the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools initiative could yet prove to be decisive.
Mr Crilly said: “Unfortunately too many of our children are suffering from problems associated with childhood obesity by the time they reach Year 6, and we believe the causes need to be tackled very early on in a child’s school life. We would like to have the opportunity to combat the risk elements associated with a high sugar diet by offering real alternatives to pupils, so they are more inclined to choose the healthy option over the less healthy one.
“A number of our children arrive at school eating bars and treats that are very high in sugar content and these snacks often lead to energy crashes, making it harder for children to focus in class.
“Children will be flexible and experimental if they are given the choice so we try to build good habits that will last a lifetime.
“We believe the more children understand why and how fruits and vegetables help them to stay healthy now, and help them stay healthy in the future compared to the poor nutritional value of sugary snacks, then the more likely they are to make positive choices. The goal is to create lifelong habits for healthy living.
“I am genuinely ecstatic about the project. I’ve long believed families will make better choices if they are available to them, and this project will offer the opportunity for the theory to be tested.
“My children love to choose fruit and veg at lunch time and will definitely eat it at break time. I would hope to see over time the way that the very young children attending school can develop the habit of healthy eating. The scheme may allow us to share fruit and veg with our hard-pressed families. It may allow us to be versatile with it in our after school clubs and within the curriculum and we may be able to reduce the awful obesity statistics that have remained stubbornly high for as long as we have been open as a school in this area.”