Birmingham: Tesco is on a mission to help kids eat healthier. They’re giving away £4 million in fruit and vegetables to 400 schools across the UK. This initiative targets schools in areas where many families rely on free school meals.

As part of this campaign, Tesco is also providing slow cookers to these schools. While slow cookers are common at home, it’s a unique addition to classrooms. This way, kids can learn to cook with the fresh produce they receive.

The goal is to teach children cooking skills early on. Studies show that kids are more likely to eat vegetables if they help prepare them. It’s a fun way to get them involved in healthy eating.

One school benefiting from this program is Holly Hill Church School in Rubery. Bursar Michelle Evans uses a Tesco gift card to buy fresh produce every weekend. She aims to ease the burden on parents in a deprived area.

Michelle shares that they try to offer kids new fruits and vegetables daily. Recently, they had lychees, mangos, and passionfruit. Many kids are surprised to try these foods for the first time.

Assistant headteacher Cally Parsonage sees great potential in the slow cookers. She plans to use them for lessons in math, science, and literacy. Cooking can teach kids about measurements, nutrition, and even writing recipes.

Cally is excited about the hands-on experience. In the past, kids had to take their baked goods to the kitchen. Now, they can watch their meals cook right in the classroom.

With the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools scheme, schools can choose the produce they need. Many are eager to use the slow cookers, inspired by a teacher’s idea at Hillborough Junior School.

Claire De Silva from Tesco highlights the positive impact of this initiative. It helps kids in challenging communities get essential vitamins and minerals. The slow cookers will encourage them to try healthy foods and develop lifelong habits.

Research shows that learning to cook young can lead to better eating habits. Currently, only 12% of kids meet the five-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendation. Tesco hopes to increase this intake by 23% among participating students.

Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools

Chef Poppy O’Toole supports the campaign, emphasizing the importance of nutritious food. Involving kids in cooking helps them try new foods and build healthy habits.

Elaine Hindal from the British Nutrition Foundation is thrilled with the results. The scheme has already provided nearly 2.5 million portions of fruit and vegetables. Kids are trying a wide variety of produce, which is often out of reach for schools on tight budgets.