Kids get cooking in Livewell Child schools

Braintree district schools involved in the Livewell Child project have set up cooking clubs for their pupils to help teach them about healthy eating.

The Livewell Child project has been set up by Braintree District Council and their partners to encourage children and families to live well, eat well and to increase physical activity.

Members of the public voted for Livewell Child to support cooking clubs in schools, in the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ community grant scheme.  Match funding from Essex County Council allowed Livewell Child to appoint the Children’s Food Trust to deliver their flagship ‘Let’s Get Cooking’ workshop to Livewell Child Champions from the schools taking part in the project. Livewell Child champions have now set up cooking clubs at their schools.

Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Cllr John Spence said: “We are delighted to be part funding the ‘Let’s Get Cooking’ scheme. Every child deserves the healthiest start in life and projects like this really can make a difference. Those taking part are not only learning about healthy eating choices, they are being taught how to cook too, which in itself is a valuable life skill.  It’s great to hear that the children taking part are already embracing the scheme and trying foods that they never would have before.”

Anita Dawson, a teacher from Lyons Hall School said, “When we surveyed our parents we discovered they wanted to know more about what we were doing to help keep their children healthy. I jumped at the chance to take part in a cooking workshop and it gave me the necessary training to help us set up the cooking club in a safe environment for the children. We know childhood obesity is a major issue in this country and so we thought that a cooking club was the ideal way of teaching children all about food and how to eat well.”

One parent whose child attends Lyons Hall School said, “My child has enjoyed the cooking club so much, and has taken an interest in cooking since joining, which is great. She’s pretty fussy, but is now trying the recipes she’s cooking. She’s never liked anything spicy, but loved her spicy soup, and has decided to try a curry next!”

Councillor Tattersley, Cabinet Member for Health & Communities said, “One of the aims of Livewell Child is to encourage families to eat a healthy and varied diet.  The Children’s Food Trust’s ‘Let’s Get Cooking’ workshop was this country’s largest network of healthy cooking clubs for children and their families. We are pleased to hear that children are using their new cooking skills at home, and eating a healthier diet after learning about food at school.”

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