Tesco has initiated a campaign to increase the intake of fruit and veg among children who may not normally receive enough of these nutritious foods. Focusing on Birmingham and UK-wide schools in neighbourhoods with a high uptake of free school meals, this initiative arises from data highlighting the struggle of low-income families to maintain a healthy diet.
The retail giant is now rolling out the second phase by equipping these schools with slow cookers, encouraging children to make full use of the vegetables supplied. Slow cookers, while not standard in classrooms, are well-known in UK households, and the campaign aims to instil cooking skills in kids early, carrying them into later life. Research suggests that involvement in cooking can make youngsters more open to eating veggies.
Holly Hill Church School in Rubery, one of the beneficiary schools, sees its bursar Michelle Evans shopping for produce each weekend with a Tesco-provided gift card. She commented: "We are based in one of the most deprived parts of Birmingham. If we can relieve pressure on parents, we will do what we can."
"We try to give the children something different every day. We had lychees last week, we've had mangos, papaya, melon and passionfruit - it's a great way for them to try new things, new textures. Sometimes it will be different-sized carrots or yellow or orange tomatoes. When we ask them if they've tried these things before most of the time, they say no.", reports Birmingham Live.
Not only are students encountering a diverse range of produce, but the school's use of slow cookers is also opening doors for enriched learning. Assistant headteacher Cally Parsonage sees vast potential in these appliances beyond just providing meals, highlighting
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