Schools’ online healthy eating event reaches more than 2,000 pupils

Schoolchildren in North Yorkshire are helping each other to understand the benefits of eating healthily.

More than 2,000 pupils and 100 members of staff from primary schools across North Yorkshire recently took part in an interactive online event to boost wellbeing and learn the importance of healthy eating and being physically active.

Aimed at children aged seven to 11 years, the event this month saw 46 schools from across the county sign up to the online session in which pupils took part in interactive workshops broadcast live into their classrooms around the themes of active lifestyles and healthy food.

Pupils also heard from the PhunkyFoods Ambassadors at Camblesforth Primary Academy in Selby, who delivered a fun and interactive quiz about the importance of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. PhunkyFoods is an early years and primary school programme of healthy lifestyle curriculum activities, lesson plans and resources. The ambassadors are tasked with promoting healthy eating by rewarding younger children with stickers for trying fruit and vegetables and delivering assemblies promoting messages to eat healthily.

The online event consisted of:

• A live cook-a-long making a healthy fruit crunch with PhunkyFoods.
• Trying out some moves and games for active learning with North Yorkshire Sport.
• Planning school growing areas with the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Learning about mindfulness in nature with the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

North Yorkshire County Council’s young persons’ champion, Cllr Alyson Baker, said: “We are pleased to be able to reach so many North Yorkshire pupils to inspire them to lead healthier lifestyles and make positive changes in their schools. Acquiring basic cooking skills is a key part of children’s education that can lead to improved knowledge of a healthy lifestyle and dietary behaviours.”

To close the event, pupils took part in live online voting on important questions, including what makes their life good and happy – top answers were family, friends, nature, football and pets.

The county council’s executive member for children’s services, Cllr Janet Sanderson, said: “It is fantastic that so many schools across North Yorkshire signed up to take part in our latest Healthy Schools online event, which focussed on the important issues of being active and encouraging youngsters to increase their consumption of fruit and vegetables. Schools play a critical role in delivering hands-on experiences that help children develop healthy eating habits and find nutritious foods they enjoy. The interactive workshops did exactly that.”

Deborah Eckley, Years 5 and 6 teacher at Camblesforth Primary Academy, said the pupils loved attending the Phunky Foods workshop.

“One of the key parts of the children's learning has been the importance of a balanced diet and knowing what makes a healthy lunch,” she said. “They have loved being Food Ambassadors and working with other children in the school to encourage them to pick a healthy packed lunch.  One of their favourite activities has been to deliver assemblies to the school to spread the importance of healthy eating. Of course, being able to dress up as a banana, carrot and strawberry helped to make this memorable, too!"

The initiative links in with a study being carried out by the University of Leeds, which evaluates the impact of the PhunkyFoods’ intervention on food literacy, cooking skills and dietary habits of primary school children. The research design is a randomised controlled trial and involves 26 schools in North Yorkshire. The results of the trial will be published next year.

Pupils and staff from schools across the county are now looking forward to a healthy schools celebration event at RHS Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate on Tuesday, June 6.

North Yorkshire County Council schools and academies can sign up for free to take part in the Healthy Schools Award programme and attend training and events, as it is funded by the Public Health grant. Private and out-of-county schools can join Healthy Schools for an annual charge. A new Healthy Early Years award has recently been launched and is available free to all North Yorkshire early years settings, including nurseries and childminders.

For further information, email healthyschools@northyorks.gov.uk or register to take part online at healthyschoolsnorthyorks.org

Schools that signed up to participate in the online event were: Ingleton Primary School; Barkston Ash Catholic Primary School; Kirk Smeaton CE Primary School; Roecliffe CE Primary School; Alverton Community Primary School; West Heslerton CE Primary School; Austwick C of E Primary School; Giggleswick School; Gillamoor CE Primary School; Oatlands Junior School; Terrington C of E Primary School; Foston Primary School; Langton Primary School; Stillington Primary School; Camblesforth Primary Academy; Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy; The Boyle and Petyt Primary School; Thomton-in-Craven Primary School; Osmotherley Primary School; Woodlands Academy; Barsby Bridge CP School; Broomfield School; Sherburn Hungate Primary School; Saltersgate Junior School; Herford Vale C of E Primary School; Egton C or E VA Primary School; Barwic Parade CP School; Greatwood Community Primary School; Leyburn Primary School; Long Preston Primary School; Amotherby Primary School; Orton CE Primary School; Killinghall CE Primary School; Michael Syddall C of E (Aided) School; The BAWB Federation; Gargrave CE Primary School; Boroughbridge Primary School; Sutton-in-Craven Primary School; Middleham Primary School; Glusburn CP School; Cayton Primary School; Bedale Primary School; Appleton Roebuck Primary School; Glasshouses School and Kirby Hill C of E Primary School.