Food and drink

An unhealthy diet contributes to obesity and poor health, as well as poor concentration and performance. In contrast, a Sustainable School that procures healthy, ethically sourced food can offer nutritional benefits, and improve pupils’ understanding of food and where it comes from, while also protecting the environment and supporting local producers and suppliers.

In Richmond upon Thames several schools are already well on the way to fulfilling the aims of the Food and Drink doorway.

  • St Stephen’s School in Twickenham has just begun work with a new caterer that is committed to using local producers whenever possible, and is supplying organic milk and free-range eggs to the school.
  • Grey Court School in Ham is establishing a whole-school approach to food and drink with a refurbished dining area, and a community allotment space where students, parents and staff can grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Ideas for activities

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Start a kitchen garden and get pupils involved in growing fruit and vegetables.
  • Participate in Fairtrade fortnight with the Fairtrade Foundation, you can even become a Fairtrade school.
  • Participate in British Food Fortnight, explain local food sourcing and seasonal foods to pupils.
  • Have a foods of the world or fruit and vegetable week: encourage pupils to bring in food products for discussion or ‘touch and taste’.
  • Get pupils involved in designing sustainable food menus.
  • Start a cookery club involving pupils and their parents.

Competition time

School Food Matters has teamed up with Richmond Environment Network and Rushall Organic Farm to run a competition to encourage pupils to think about food production and sustainability. Thirteen schools have registered and will receive fun workshops and be asked to produce a short film on the life of a food staple – the journey from farm gate to school plate. The winning entry will receive an allotment space built within school grounds, compliments of sponsors, Mears. And there are great runners-up prizes too. Waitrose has kindly funded a trip to Rushall Organic Farm for sixty children and another lucky school will receive a visit from the Nice-Green Van.

Winners will be announced on 1st April and the allotment prize awarded on 1st May by Royal Horticultural Society school gardening champ and Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins. Look out for the winning films online in April 2009.

Useful links

  • School Food Matters - focused on supporting schools in Richmond upon Thames and Kingston, includes case studies, cooking and growing programmes and a Find a Farmer page designed to link local schools to local producers.
  • Food In Schools - case studies, material for raising awareness and information on how to purchase sustainable food and school meal standards.
  • Growing Schools - teaching resources and information about how to start a school garden.
  • The Fairtrade Foundation - the campaigning and certification organisation behind the Fairtrade Mark. Includes information about Fairtrade events, recipes and speakers.
  • British Food Fortnight - information about buying food locally, school events, teaching and recipe guides.  
  • Grab 5! School Food Policy - teaching resources and information to encourage pupils to eat five fruit and vegetables a day.
  • Sustain - short guides on sustainable food for children and how to eat greener, healthier and more ethical food.

Contact details

Stephanie Wood, School Food Matters
Email:stephanie@schoolfoodmatters.com
Telephone: 020 8392 5055