In May 2016, ISS held a special Food Education Event Day (FEED) for local schools in the borough of Bracknell Forest.
The event which took place at The Education Centre, Easthampstead, Park welcomed pupils and teachers from seven schools that ISS serves in Bracknell.
Pupils aged from 5 to 11 came along to learn about the importance of eating good quality, healthy food and maintaining an active lifestyle. Over 80 pupils attended and some school Heads also took the time to visit the event along with the other teaching staff.
The ISS education catering team where joined by various ISS partners and suppliers to demonstrate the role of food in a healthy lifestyle. Pupils where challenged to blind tasting, smelling and touching different fruit and vegetables, taking on the Speed Bounce challenge and having a spin on the Smoothie Bike. The Smoothie Bike is a regular feature at events, and the pedal-powered blender requires a lot of energy to mix all the ingredients smoothly.
Roots to Food were there to show attendees exactly how the food they eat is converted into energy. Before making their own healthy fruit smoothies, pupils were put through their paces with some stretching and exercise to get their blood pumping. Roots to Food deliver workshops promoting healthy eating, activity and nutrition across the education sector.
ISS where also joined by partners School Food Matters who got pupils drawing their favourite school meals and food supplier NCB who brought along exotic produce such as dragon fruit to wow attendees. The school catering business at ISS works with the School Food Matters charity to promote food education through growing projects for schools.
The day included competitions to win assorted sports equipment, a bicycle and a Speed Bounce for the lucky winner’s school.
Former Director of the School Food Plan Myles Bremner also paid a visit to the Education centre on the day. Myles is currently working with ISS to help us make our service even better. Myles Bremner stated, “It was a real honour to be part of the Food Education Event Day. It was amazing to see so many school pupils and their teachers taking part – whether peddling furiously on the smoothie bike, being quizzed on their favourite school lunch or learning new nutrition facts and figures. ISS works hard with schools to create a dynamic, successful food culture – linking good food education to an excellent school lunch!”
Pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary commented:
‘We enjoyed tasting the grapes and tomatoes’ Anesu
‘The smoothy was a bit strange with the spinach in it but we liked the banana & strawberries in it!’ Penelope
Pupils from Crowland Primary School commented:
‘I really enjoyed making smoothies with Roots to Food, and my favourite taster was mushrooms’ Emily
‘I liked trying the strawberries, though sometimes they can be acidic!’ Matthew
Emily and Matthew both helped as ‘assistant chefs’ during a Roots to Food demonstration.
Photo – The ISS Catering team with visiting Bracknell Forest school children
