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Minister for Public Health Melanie Johnson, and Food Standards Agency Deputy Chair, Julia Unwin, are today getting on board the Food Standards Agency's new Cooking Bus.
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Pupils and teachers from Southfield School in Hatfield joined in wishing the bus well as it started its journey to get across healthy eating and food safety messages to school children around the country.
Staffed by two experienced teachers, the bus offers practical support to schools, and will deliver improved food education to more than 18,000 pupils and 2,400 teachers over the next three years.
Through practical cooking sessions, children and young people will be inspired about food, cooking, healthy eating and food safety. Special workshops for teachers will be held on the bus. This will enable them to take the knowledge and experience they gain back to the classroom once the Cooking Bus has moved on, creating a legacy of improved food education.
Melanie Johnson, Minister for Public Health, said: 'It's no secret that children are not eating enough healthy foods. Figures show that children spent £433 million on food and drink going to and from school last year, most of it going on sweets, crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks. One in seven 15 year olds and one in twelve 6 year olds are now obese.
'We're committed to encouraging children to eat a healthy, balanced diet and the Cooking Bus will play a key role in helping achieve that aim.
'I'm delighted to launch the Cooking Bus and I'm sure that children and teachers will enjoy getting on board too!'
The Agency Cooking Bus will prioritise visits to socially deprived areas of the country. In the school holidays the bus will embark on a special programme of visits to community centres, youth clubs and play schemes to make learning about food more accessible.
Julia Unwin, Deputy Chair of the Food Standards Agency, said: 'The Cooking Bus is integral to the Agency's campaign to reach out and engage with many different groups of people to help improve their diets. Targeting young people, the Cooking Bus will help to develop crucial life skills and encourage good hygiene practice in the kitchen.'
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