Healthy eating policy bears fruit

1:08pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Primary school children from across the county will take part in a range of fruity' events in the week running up to Fruity Friday on May 16.

The national event is organised by the World Cancer Research Fund to raise awareness of the cancer prevention benefits of eating a healthy diet. It is one of several campaigns being supported by Health Challenge Carmarthenshire during 2008.

As part of the week-long event, the county council's catering department has organised a fruit-inspired menu for primary schools.

Welsh lamb, leek and apricot meat balls or vegetable bites served with mint gravy, broccoli, carrots and potatoes will be on offer, as well as a selection of fresh fruit wedges for dessert.

Catering Services Manager Sandra Weigel said: "Our school menus are always healthy and nutritionally balanced but campaigns like this help further raise the profile of certain food groups, in this case, fruit."

Other individually organised events are also taking place in the county's healthy schools - ranging from tuck shops to the planting of seasonal fruits.

Children in Ffairfach school will be taking part in the Fruity Factor - a spin off of the popular ITV programme the X-Factor.

Children will design their own fruit smoothies and the most popular, as chosen by the children themselves, will be served in the canteen later in the week.