Healthy Choices snapped up by a quarter of teachers

Just three months after its launch, over 5000 of the Milk Development Council (MDC) Healthy Choices packs, designed to educate children about dairy-related diet and nutrition subjects, have been requested by teachers across England and Wales. This covers around a quarter of the primary school population.

The pack, which was launched in September, contains activities, notes, handouts and teachers' aids for children aged five to eleven. Its aim is to clearly put information and advice about the health and nutritional benefits of dairy products, balanced diets, the composition of milk and dairy products, and the range of dairy products available to UK consumers at the centre of the school curriculum.

"We were keen to increase the level of awareness about milk and dairy products among primary school children and knew there was a great demand for this kind of information," says Diane Cannon, who runs MDC's School Milk Project setting up milk schemes in schools across the country. "But we have been staggered by the positive response from teachers."

Kathryn Saunders, Year Three teacher at Two Moors Primary School, Tiverton, Devon, says: "The Healthy Choices pack is a useful resource for all primary teachers. It is informative but presented in a fun, colourful way with activities that are appropriate and adaptable. I know my class will enjoy making skeletons in the activity for bones and teeth and trying out the recipes for dairy delights!"

Diane Cannon adds: "With over 5000 packs requested that means we've already reached a quarter of all primary schools in England and Wales. With the help of our School Milk facilitators we can really spread the good news message of milk and dairy products."

The Healthy Choices pack covers the English curriculum and a Welsh version of the programme has been developed to meet the requirements of the Welsh Curriculum. Healthy Choices is also available in the Welsh language. Another pack, Milk Magic, developed to cover the Scottish curriculum, was launched in December.