Our initiatives in schools
We’re on a mission to improve children’s health and wellbeing by making sure they get the best food education possible.
Through our flagship education programme, Food - a fact of life, and our annual Healthy Eating Week, we are working to instil a culture of healthy eating and food literacy in children and young people, helping them to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways.
We help schools integrate comprehensive food and nutrition education into their curriculum, so that pupils get a well-rounded understanding of the importance of nutrition in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our work is informed by members of four Education Working Groups in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Working closely with teachers, we aim to make food and nutrition education an integral part of the learning experience, with age-appropriate materials and resources for early years, primary and secondary pupils.
Claire Theobald, Education Services Manager, British Nutrition Foundation
Food - a fact of life
The cornerstone of our work in schools is the Food - a fact of life programme. The programme meets the requirements of food and nutrition curricula across the UK. It also aligns with other subjects including design and technology, health and wellbeing, science, numeracy, literacy, geography, religious education, and RSE and health education.
Food - a fact of life is founded on a whole school approach. It provides advice and guidance on policy matters relating to the dietary requirements of children and young people and provision of food throughout the school day.
This dynamic and interactive education programme is themed around healthy eating, cooking, and where food comes from. It is designed to inspire pupils of all ages with engaging lessons and resources, such as quizzes, videos, and interactive games. The programme also supports trainee, new, non-specialist and more experienced teachers through guidance and professional development.
Food - a fact of life covers essential topics, such as the principles of a healthy balanced diet, how to plan, cook and prepare food, and food provenance and production. Its versatility allows teachers to tailor content to specific needs and foster a deeper understanding of food that extends beyond the classroom.
The Food - a fact of life programme cultivates critical thinking and decision-making skills, empowering children and young people to independently make informed food choices.
We also provide careers information about working in 'food' for schools, pupils and parents.
Food - a fact of life is managed by the British Nutrition Foundation, in partnership with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
Collaboration with others
To ensure the breadth, depth, consistency and rigour of food and nutrition education across the UK, we work with practising teachers, universities, government, awarding organisations, and other stakeholders such as CLEAPSS and the Design & Technology Association.
Monitoring and evaluation
We evaluate feedback and analyse data to measure the impact of our work. This enables us to gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of our training and resources and refine these, as needed.
Teaching Primary Food and Nutrition
In November 2022, with support from the All Saints Educational Trust, we launched a free two-year training programme – Teaching Primary Food and Nutrition (TPFN). This programme was created for teachers, trainee teachers and teaching assistants in primary settings across the UK.
Championing a whole school approach to food, the training provides the knowledge and practical skills needed in the classroom and includes topics from food safety and hygiene to knife skills, healthy eating, and helping children understand the farm to fork journey of their food.
Each TPFN participant receives a personal portfolio providing information, advice and ideas as well as tools to audit, evaluate, and reflect upon their teaching and learning.
This session was incredibly helpful. I feel like I have more confidence and direction on teaching cooking to primary children and how to lay this out, ensure safety, and ensure the children have the best experience.
Teaching Primary Food and Nutrition participant
Since its launch in November 2022:
- More than 480 teachers have registered for TPFN.
- 99% of teachers agreed they felt more informed after TPFN training.
- 97% of teachers felt more confident in their role after TPFN training,
Healthy Eating Week
In addition to the Food - a fact of life programme, the British Nutrition Foundation organises the annual Healthy Eating Week - an event that brings together schools, workplaces, and communities to focus on promoting and celebrating healthier habits.
Healthy Eating Week encompasses a range of activities and challenges designed to encourage children and young people to make healthier food choices and adopt sustainable eating habits. Schools actively participate in themed days, such as 'Get at least 5 A DAY', 'Focus on fibre' and 'Reduce food waste', which serve as focal points for promoting specific aspects of a healthy lifestyle.
The Week is not only an opportunity for pupils to reinforce their knowledge about healthy, sustainable food but also a chance for schools to showcase their commitment to fostering a healthy environment.
Contact us:
To learn more, please contact the Education team at education@nutrition.org.uk