YOUNG chefs at a Middlesbrough School will be serving up a treat for their teachers later this week.
The Year 6 pupils at Abingdon Primary have been learning about healthy eating as part of the Hearty BEATS project run by Middlesbrough Environment City.
And on Thursday (June 25) they’ll be showcasing their cooking and budgeting skills by planning, designing and preparing a healthy-three course meal for their teachers.
They’ll also be joined by Hearty BEATS mascot Artie who will be sample the food and present the young cooks with an Artie’s Star award in recognition of their hard work over the past month.
The project aims to raise awareness in young people about cardiovascular disease and encourages them to learn about healthy cooking, growing healthy food and taking part in healthy activities.
The Hearty BEATS name derives from the focus on reducing heart disease, while BEATS stands for Better Eating and Activity Through Schools.
Mel Greenwood, Health Projects Lead at MEC, said: “If we are to tackle the prevalence of heart disease in this area, it’s important that children learn the key messages at a young age.
“Projects like this – working together with their families – can help them lead healthier and longer lives.”
Councillor Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Public Health, said: “The importance of children learning about healthy eating and nutrition is well known, and those lessons will stand them in good stead in later life.
“It’s great to see these pupils planning and preparing their own three-course meal for their teachers to enjoy.
“The Hearty BEATS project combines fun with really valuable lessons in health and well-being, and will lead to more young people eating healthily and taking more exercise.”