More Jersey primary schools will be able to take part in food education from September, thanks to a new classroom-based programme designed for schools without cooking facilities.
The initiative, called Food Explorers, has been developed by Caring Cooks of Jersey and will run alongside the charity’s long-running Let’s Get Cooking programme.
Unlike the existing scheme, which relies on school kitchens, Food Explorers has been designed for classrooms, allowing schools without cooking facilities to take part.
The programme has also been endorsed by Public Health Jersey.
Chief executive Yvonne Corbin said the charity’s core mission had always been to educate children about food.
“People often see the community support side of Caring Cooks of Jersey, but our main focus has always been education around food,” she said.
“For the past nine years, our Let’s Get Cooking programme has been at the heart of that.
“It has given so many children across Jersey the chance to get into a kitchen, cook from scratch, try new foods and learn skills they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn.”
She added that the charity recognised not every school had access to a teaching kitchen, prompting the development of the new programme.
Through Food Explorers, pupils will take part in practical classroom activities including chopping, mixing, measuring and tasting food, while also learning about ingredients, where food comes from and how to make healthy choices.
Ms Corbin said introducing children to food at an early age could have a lasting impact.
“If children understand food from a young age, they are more likely to try new things, ask questions, make connections and feel confident around ingredients,” she said.
“Those small experiences can stay with them, whether that’s helping at home, making a simple snack, understanding what is on their plate, or just feeling less unsure around food.”
She described the launch of Food Explorers as “a really exciting next step” for the charity and said staff were looking forward to introducing the programme to schools in September.
