A major supermarket chain’s Fruit & Veg For Schools initiative sees select schools around the country given special gift cards they can use to load up on healthy goodies for pupils
Struggling parents are getting a helping hand from the Tesco Fruit & Veg For Schools initiative.
With money tight, many families find it hard to juggle their commitments with healthy, nutritious food. Now, 400 schools have been selected to join a unique scheme which will ensure up to 140,000 children across Britain eat at least one piece of fresh fruit or veg a day.
One of them is Saint Eithne’s Primary in Derry, Northern Ireland. Principal Terence McDowell said: “Receiving fruit and vegetables from Tesco will make a huge difference to what we offer our children. It could not come at a better time as we see on a daily basis the burden that parents continue to struggle with as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
“This will help relieve the financial burden of finding a healthy snack for their child. By providing a wide range of alternative healthy snacks to our children, we hope to broaden their experiences when it comes to choosing fruit or vegetables that they can snack on each day at breaktime.”
Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer, teamed up with sustainability charity Groundwork and the British Nutrition Foundation to identify schools with the largest percentage of disadvantaged students.
Participating schools have been supplied with special gift cards. The funding ranges from £4,000 to £21,000 each year. Schools can visit their nearest Tesco store whenever they like to load up trolleys with produce.
Mr McDowell said: “We would like to set sound foundations with our children in regard to making good choices when it comes to nutrition. The Tesco scheme will allow us to provide our children with regular opportunities to experience a wider range of healthy alternatives to sugary treats.
“Children who come to school hungry are not in a good place to learn. This scheme will complement our breakfast club to ensure all children have the opportunity to eat a range of healthy and nutritious snacks.”
Evidence shows health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety of fruit and veg a day. Yet data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey suggests just 12% of young people aged 11-18 meet the recommendation.
Tesco’s £4million nationwide scheme aims to prove that fruit and vegetables taste delicious – and can be a real-life superpower.
