More than 7,900 nurseries and schools have already registered to take part in this year’s event, representing 3.7 million children.
Registration is free for all, and participants will benefit from a variety of resources – all designed to boost the understanding of healthy eating.
The theme for Healthy Eating Week this year is ‘applied learning’. The idea is to encourage school children to take ownership of their own health by becoming their school’s ‘Ambassadors’ for the week and motivating their peers.
To support the week of activities, all participants will receive a board game, posters, and activity ideas, and a series of daily challenges. This year’s challenges include: Have breakfast, 5 A DAY, drink plenty, get active and try something new. There will also be health webinars and online cooking activities.
Schools can download Ambassador Packs, to encourage applications for the Ambassador roles.
This is the first year that universities and colleges have been invited to get involved as well as schools and nurseries. More than 110 universities and colleges and 140 workplaces will be participating from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – involving nearly half a million adults in the activities so far.
Roy Ballam, managing director and head of education at the BNF, said, ‘Each year Healthy Eating Week continues to grow. With the importance of a good diet and regular physical activity increasingly prominent, adults and children alike are keen to increase their knowledge on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.'
Findings from a new BNF research study, one of the largest surveys of its kind, conducted among 4,000 UK children aged five to 16, will be sent out to all settings registered for Healthy Eating Week on Monday 13 June to coincide with the week.
The research will provide an insight into children’s knowledge about healthy eating and the origins of food, as well as their eating habits and physical activity levels at different ages.
For more information about BNF Healthy Eating Week 2017 and to register your nursery or school, visit: www.healthyeatingweek.org.uk.