According to the National Children’s Food Survey, the majority of primary school aged children in Ireland (5-12 years ) are only consuming three portions of fruit and vegetables per day which is far from the recommended ‘7 a day’.
Registered Dietician and Researcher, Niamh Arthurs, voiced her concern during Incredible Edibles Healthy Eating Week.
Incredible Edibles is a healthy eating and growing project that gives primary schools a free grow box full of Irish fruit and vegetables and engages them in five aspects of food production and consumption. These five aspects include food origin, identifying Irish produce, growing, cooking and eating their own healthy foods.
The challenge for Healthy Eating Week is to eat seven a day for seven days – which is the recommended amount for those aged five and over from The Department of Health and the HSE. Schools will also fill out a food diary available on the Incredible Edibles website.
“The Incredible Edibles Programme is a fantastic opportunity for children of all different backgrounds who may or may not have a lot of green space where they live to grow their own food and learn about where some of our food, particularly food that are ‘veggie veggie’ good for us comes from. Literally from farm to fork.
“It helps to really get children excited about growing fruit and vegetables and helps to increase their familiarity with various types of fruit and vegetables.
“This is especially the case for ones we can grow in season here in Ireland. These are really important not just for the nutritional value and flavour of the food but also for the environment and arguably for the economy and producers in Ireland. There are multiple benefits of eating foods that we can grow locally in Ireland.
“Empowering families with knowledge and supports and actively encouraging their involvement in school nutrition programmes can stimulate their interest and appetite for making healthier food choices.
“In essence, it’s about creating those conversations to pass down information from generation to generation. For some families, the Incredible Edibles programme can see children bringing home the knowledge that they have learned in school and educating their families at home; rather than the other way around which is powerful!
“It’s an excellent initiative for schools, families and the environment. It will be great to see some of the pupils involved this week and their enjoyment in the programme and the pride they take in the produce they have grown,” Ms Arthurs said.
Niamh also spoke about the impact children can have on each other when it comes to the food choices they make.
“A big positive of the programme is the peer-to-peer support and the peer-to-peer effect. There is research that highlights when some children are amongst their peers, they are more likely to try foods that they have not tried before and, subsequently, it can help to increase their confidence and likelihood in trying and accepting new foods such as fruits and vegetables.
“Sometimes for children, trying a new food which may entail an unfamiliar look, smell, texture and taste can be challenging. Educative and enjoyable programmes like The Incredible Edibles can help create a supportive environment amongst peers and encourage children to try new foods; even foods they have never heard of before!
“Often, parents will say that they try to encourage their children to taste new foods at home but they won’t. However, at school amongst their peers and a supportive environment, they will try such foods through fun programmes like The Incredible Edibles,” Ms Arthurs added.
