School salad days from the Fresh Prepared Salads Producer Group

The Fresh Prepared Salads Producer Group which supplies washed and ready to eat mixed salad packs to all major supermarkets in the UK has launched a schools campaign targeting children aged between 7 and 10 with presentations looking at the importance of healthy eating and a balanced diet.

The pupils are also taught about how salads are grown locally, the history of salad, where they are grown around the world, and then shown different varieties of salad leaves and taught how to make some simple dressings before having a tasting session conducted by a home economist.

Throughout the summer, farmers from salad producing areas all around the UK will be visiting a number of schools in each area.

The presentation, which has been designed to combine practical, 'hands on' fun with educational messages regarding healthy food choices has been designed to tie in with elements of National Curriculum Key Stage 2. A survey looking at children's attitudes to food, healthy eating and exercise is also being carried out as part of the campaign.

Members of the Fresh Prepared Salads Group include Geest, Natures Way Foods, Kanes Foods, Florette and Vitacress Salads. Other ongoing campaigns around the importance of five-a-day include a recipe booklet entitled "Are You Getting Enough" featuring advice from a crack team of experts, The Salad Squad comprised of celebrity chef Lesley Waters, nutritionist Fiona Hunter and fitness expert Nicki Waterman. A nationwide survey looking at the nation's attitude to salads and healthy eating has already been carried out.

Kip Winter-Cox, of the Fresh Prepared Salads Producer Group, says: "People in the UK are becoming more health conscious and childhood nutrition in particular has been put in the spotlight by increasing concerns about childhood obesity and campaigns such as Jamie Oliver's healthy school meal programme. We aim to draw people's attention to the subject of nutrition and show how bagged salads can make a significant contribution to our recommended daily allowance of many essential vitamins and minerals."