23 October 2006

Minister outlines plans to tackle childhood obesity in schools

Education Minister, Maria Eagle, has today highlighted the need for a holistic approach in schools to help tackle the issue of childhood obesity.

The Minister was speaking as she visited the Cooking Bus, a mobile kitchen/classroom aimed at educating young people on the importance of nutritious food, at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

The Cooking Bus is an articulated vehicle that opens out to provide a fully equipped state-of-the-art classroom/kitchen for 16 students. It is staffed by a senior teacher, a support teacher and a driver technician.

Welcoming the Cooking Bus to Northern Ireland, Maria Eagle said: “One in four P1 girls and one in five boys in Northern Ireland is considered to be either overweight or obese. The Cooking Bus is an exciting and interactive way of engaging school children and highlighting the importance of healthy eating at a young age.”

The Minister highlighted the work carried out in schools to address childhood obesity, including the move to improve the nutritional standards of school meals.

New nutritional guidelines are being rolled out to all local schools to ensure children receive a healthy meal during the school day.

The Minister continued: “By the end of this term every school in Northern Ireland will have signed up to these new nutritional standards. This year alone, £3 million has been made available to increase minimum expenditure on the food content of school meals and for training canteen staff.

“Also, two Nutritional Associates will now evaluate the quality of school meals to ensure that the new standards are being met.”

She continued: “The issue of healthy eating in schools, however, is much wider. We also need to educate our children in the preparation of healthy food. That is why Home Economics has been made a statutory requirement at Key Stage 3 under the revised curriculum.

“It is also important to ensure that schools do not provide unhealthy alternatives through vending machines and tuck shops. My Department has just finished its examination of the consultation on this issue, and I intend to bring forward proposals on the way forward in the near future.”

The Minister concluded: “If we are to tackle childhood obesity effectively, we need to ensure that, during their school years, our children are provided with and exposed to healthier eating options.

“Schools not only lay the academic groundwork for young people, they can also positively influence their eating habits, essential for health and well-being in later life.”

The visit of the Cooking Bus to Northern Ireland was facilitated by the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland. It will be at the Odyssey Arena until 26 October, during which time pupils from schools across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to prepare, cook and enjoy healthy food options.

Earlier this year the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI) undertook a feasibility study to look at options for providing a Cooking Bus specifically for Northern Ireland, as they felt it would be an extremely valuable tool to assist them in meeting their objectives with regard to diet and nutrition. This week's visit will give both FSANI and all other interested parties the opportunity to see the bus in action and to demonstrate its potential for the community as a whole.

(EF/KMcA)