Health Promotion in Berkshire
Food Awareness Week
Food Awareness Week is a campaign run by the dietitians in schools each year, usually in July
The prevalence of obesity in children is rising. The Health Survey for England (2002) reported that, based on the National BMI percentiles classification, over 30% of children aged 2-15 are either overweight or obese. Between 1995 and 2002 obesity doubled among boys (2.9% to 5.7%) and increased among girls from 4.9% to 7.8%.
Food Awareness Week is designed to promote healthy eating to children to help tackle this problem. To avoid issues around body image and eating disorders, the campaign focuses on positive messages around healthy eating, particularly the importance of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are low Calorie foods high in vitamins, minerals and fibre. This makes them ideal snacks and an essential mealtime component.
Exercise will be incorporated into more of the activities this year linking it closer to the Healthy Schools standards.
The Food Awareness programme, as in previous years, will link closely to the Berkshire Healthy Schools Programme. The pack now has over 60 activity sheets, all designed to help you achieve at least one of the Healthy Schools Standards. This year there is an increase in the number of activities aimed at secondary schools.
Guidelines for the creation of a 'whole school food policy' are also available; these will be issued with each Food Awareness Pack. These guidelines support the school in achieving 'healthy school' status and have been developed in conjunction with the Berkshire Healthy Schools team, in line with national guidance.
Local schools will be contacted each year in writing and invited to register.
For further information on this project, please contact Pip Collings