How to encourage a whole-school approach to food

A whole-school approach to food goes beyond teaching in the classroom and lunchtime services – here are some tips to help children develop healthy habits for longer lives 

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Public Health England

Create a school recipe book

Include recipes from children, parents, carers, staff and other members of your local community. You could sell the book to raise money for cooking equipment.

Set up a breakfast club

Breakfast clubs are a great way for your pupils to start the day – improving their health and nutrition, ability to socialise, attendance and punctuality. Why not try setting one up?

Create pupil leaders

Creating leadership roles, and getting pupils more involved, can help them take more ownership of their learning and become more responsible, not only for their own health but also for the health of their familiies by creating positive ‘pester power’.

Get growing

Studies have shown that children are far more likely to eat fruit and vegetables they have grown themselves. Try growing food on the school grounds, encouraging the children to look after it and then harvest it. Your pupils can then eat it or sell it in the school shop.

Make a cooking display

Display lots of photographs of children cooking, as well as images of their final dishes, in the dining hall or entrance hall/foyer.

Engage families and the school community

Involving families and your whole school community, from governors to local business to community leaders, can create a supportive, two-way, conversation for sharing ideas and inspiration.

Set up a cookery club and get parents to help

Set up a club to help teach children, and their parents, how easy it is to cook healthy and tasty meals. You could also produce a healthy cookbook with the club’s favourite healthy recipes.

Be inspired

Need more ideas? Take a look at examples of what other schools are doing to encourage children to eat well.