As part of its ongoing support for the government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF), leading school and education catering company Chartwells has provided a range of free, interactive cooking and nutrition workshops to children across Sussex.
Delivered over the summer as part of Chartwells’ Beyond the Chartwells Kitchen Programme and led by nutritionist Faye Murton, seven sessions were held at schools and community centres in Crawley, Seaford and Worthing with the aim of helping improve local children’s food education and providing them with a safe environment to socialise during the holidays.
Reaching over 300 children, the sessions focused on the importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet whilst also putting their cooking skills to the test by making tasty fruit kebabs, rainbow wraps with vegetables, chickpeas and cheese, and Energy Balls made from oats, cocoa and raisins.
At childcare service provider Tots2teens, Seaford, children got creative by blending their own smoothies using Chartwells’ smoothie bike – a pedal-operated blender connected to a stationary bicycle that allows children to choose their fruit, jump on the bike and blend their own healthy treat.
Chartwells, which is based in Chertsey, Surrey, is committed to providing young people with delicious, nutritious meals and food education both during and out of term time, and has supported HAF projects since 2018.
This summer, the company reached thousands of families across the UK through its workshops and will continue to support children out of term time, with activities planned for the autumn half-term and Christmas holidays.
Faye Murton, nutritionist at Chartwells, said: “We’re determined to continue reaching young people and educating them in fun, interactive ways on the importance of eating healthy and nutritious meals, both inside school and outside of term time.
“We understand that many families may struggle financially during the holidays, so ensuring local children have resources available to support their mental and physical development is vital.
“The pupils loved taking part in the workshops this summer and had the opportunity to cook new recipes, meet new friends and blend their own smoothies while exercising using the smoothie bike. It was great seeing them so engaged in learning about how meals fuel both body and mind.”
