Junk food diets are holding back the untapped potential of a generation of knowledge-thirsty kids, a headteacher says.
The importance of learning about healthy food, and ensuring good habits last a lifetime, is key to ensuring children at High Greave Infant School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, are set on the right path.
And head Jack Huckstepp knows only too well that only the right foods can properly fuel inquiring young minds.
He said: “Children who do not maintain a healthy diet are regularly tired during lessons, short-tempered and struggle to concentrate. Without a healthy diet children simply cannot reach their full potential.”
The school, which opened in 2016, has 119 pupils aged between three and seven, 66 of whom are eligible for free school meals.
High Greave is one of 400 across Britain selected to join a first-of-its kind scheme that will see 140,000 primary and secondary kids eat at least one piece of fresh fruit or veg a day.
Tesco is pumping £4 million into its Fruit & Veg for Schools initiative, launched earlier this month by the Daily Express and Michelin-trained celebrity chef Poppy O’Toole, that it hopes will give youngsters in some of the most deprived areas across the UK access to delicious produce, guaranteeing they get their five-a-day fix.
Mr Huckstepp said the emphasis on teaching the importance of eating lots of fruit and veg instead of sugary treats is critical “to allow our children to sustain energy and concentration throughout the day”.
He added: “We teach pupils the importance of a healthy diet at all stages of their education. This is delivered in many ways such as cooking sessions, tasting sessions that celebrate a diverse range of cultures, assemblies and life skill sessions that focus on developing independence.
“We feel incredibly lucky that we have the opportunity to provide our children with healthy snacks throughout the day to maintain concentration levels and allow pupils to reach their full potential.”
Britain’s biggest retailer teamed up with sustainability charity Groundwork and the British Nutrition Foundation to identify schools with the largest percentage of students eligible for free school meals and high pupil premium funding.
Participating schools in all four corners of the UK have all been supplied with special gift cards, topped up every two weeks or more if necessary.
The funding allocated to each establishment is proportionate to the number of pupils it has, ranging from £4,000 to £21,000 annually.
Armed with prepaid cards, schools can visit their nearest Tesco store whenever they like to load up trolleys and buy produce they need to prepare, cook and eat both in and outside class.
Ofsted rated High Greave requires improvement during its latest inspection in 2023. But the heavy emphasis on healthy eating and instilling the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables in diets is paramount to changing attitudes at a school where 64.1% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals.
Evidence shows significant health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day.
A recommended portion is 80g with the World Health Organisation suggesting we should all eat a minimum of 400g a day in total to lower the risk of serious health issues.
Yet data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status, which tracks intake as part of a rolling programme of health surveillance, suggests just 12% of children aged between 11 and 18 meet the recommendation.
Fruit and veg are a relatively cheap and tasty source of essential nutrients for children’s health, including vitamins A and C, folate and fibre.
This new nationwide initiative aims to prove they are easy to use, taste delicious, and can be a physical and mental superpower.
The mission – an undertaking never attempted in Britain before – will ensure children in some of the most deprived communities in the UK are getting what is good for them in a dietary, mental and physical boost.
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group Chief Executive, said: “Our aim is to enable schools to provide enough fruit and veg for every child to have at least one piece every day.
“Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools will make a real difference by providing something that young people look forward to receiving every day, and we hope it will be another little nudge to get them eating healthy food.
“We know we can’t change habits overnight, but we can ensure that young people in some of the most challenged communities in the UK get access to more fruit and veg. We want to help them try something new, learn about food and how to prepare and cook it.”
