I am trying raise awareness particularly in the UK and American of how bad our children's diets have become, and how parents, chefs, schools and restaurants all have a part to play in helping children understand the importance of a good balanced diet.
In England from time to time I go into my locals schools and give hands on cooking lessons (some thing that had mostly been removed from schools for the last 20 years).
Whether your a parent of school aged children or a teacher, the British Food Fortnight is packed with fun things for kids to do, so make sure your school is involved. Plus a chance for your school to win great kitchen equipment from Kenwood!
This year British Food Fortnight has again placed a special emphasis on teaching young people how to cook and have invited all schools to incorporate food and cookery activities within their curriculum. Participating schools will teach children how to prepare simple meals during the Fortnight using the best of Britain’s in-season produce.
Here is a link to the site for more information.
http://www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk/index.phpItemid=55&id=38&option=com_content&task=blogcategory
In an exciting development, cooks and chefs across the country signed-up to work with schools during the event to help teachers organise practical cookery activities. The aim is to emulate the French who send 3,500 chefs into schools every October to teach children about the delights of their national cuisine. Organisations representing over 9,000 chefs volunteered their support.
Hundreds of schools across the UK are already involved, is yours?
COOKERY COMPETITION FOR KIDS
This seemed like the ideal time to remind readers of a wonderful cookery competition for children. If you live in the UK and are a school teacher or know one please pass on this information.
I'm a member of The Guild of Food Writers (membership includes Rick Stein, Antony Worrall Thompson, Nigella Lawson, Raymond Blanc to name just a few) and I'm trying to let schools know there's an annual cookery competition just for children with great prizes and for the last couple of years the final has taken place at the test kitchen of BBC Good Food magazine in London.
This year’s final took place on May 22nd and was won by Serena Jayne Moriarty, who comes from Worthing in West Sussex. Serena Jayne, aged 14, impressed judges Xanthe Clay (Saturday Telegraph) and Stuart Gillies (executive chef Boxwood Cafe in London) with an ambitious Fillet of Pollack with Herb Butter wrapped in Bacon and Squidgy Chocolate and Raspberry Puddings with perfect chocolate tuiles.
Judge and Food Editor of BBC Good Food magazine, Jane Hornby, was delighted with the creativity of the menus, some of which will be featured in the September issue.
First Prize: An Italian Experience in London: Spend a morning learning about Italian cookery in the kitchens of Giorgio Locatelli, one of the UK’s leading Italian chefs and assist in preparing your family dinner for that evening at his acclaimed Locanda Locatelli restaurant. Enjoy the delights and secrets of a culinary tour with Jenny Linford, Guild member and author of Food Lovers London and founder of Gastro-Soho Tours, and enjoy spending a voucher in Divertimenti - one of the most popular kitchen equipment stores in town.
The prize also comprises two nights’ accommodation for you and your family (up to four people) at the luxurious Radisson SAS hotel situated in the heart of the West End, all travel expenses, and a hamper packed with Sacla’ and other authentic Italian foods. A copy of The Painter, the Cook and L’Arte di Sacla’ signed by leading Italian food writer Anna Del Conte.
There’s a link to Guild of Food Writers site listed in useful links on this site if you need further information.
If you live in a part of the world where junk food is becoming a problem in your children’s diet I urge you to fight for change.
