Across the UK, school children will be taking part in the British Nutrition Foundation’s (BNF) Healthy Eating Week 2016, from 13–17 June. The Week will focus on building children’s knowledge about healthy eating and wellbeing, and on making positive changes in behaviour and attitudes towards food, cooking and exercise. Last year, over two million children and teenagers took part in Healthy Eating Week.
Registration in Healthy Eating Week is free for all schools and participants will receive complimentary resources to support activities throughout the week, including food cards, posters, activity ideas, a competition and daily challenges. The challenges are structured into five themes: Breakfast, 5-A-Day, Drink Plenty, Get Active and Try Something New. Ideas for using four practical behaviour change techniques, to make and maintain positive behaviour changes as part of the challenges, are also included:
- Targets – setting goals and tracking progress
- Buddies – using support and help from friends and family
- Nudges – making small changes to surrounding environments to encourage healthier choices
- Rewards – materials or social incentives for achievements
Roy Ballam, Managing Director and Head of Education at the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “Last year’s Healthy Eating Week was the most successful to date with over 7,500 nurseries, schools and academies taking part. Teachers rated the impact of the week highly for raising the profile of food and health, supporting pupil learning and promoting healthy eating. This year we want to take our impact a stage further and have included the behaviour change techniques to help children make lasting changes in their behaviour that will impact their health into the future.”
