If you’ve never seen a Cooking Bus in action before you are in for a treat. This giant, hi-tech articulated lorry opens out into a spectacular purpose-built kitchen and classroom where qualified food teachers give pupils, teachers and the community a taste of quality cooking.
This Cooking Bus, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, is run by The Focus on Food Campaign, the leading organization to support the teaching of cooking in schools across the UK.
Pupils climb aboard for lessons under the expert eye of Advisory Teacher Richard Shaw, whose planned programme of cooking activities is tailored to the age of those taking part and supports the schools. There will also be training for the teachers and the wider community, so they can continue helping youngsters cook with confidence long after the Bus has rolled out of the yard.
Focus on Food Cooking Buses tour the UK delivering lessons to children of all ages in how to prepare, cook and enjoy real food. Some typical dishes made onboard the bus include Roast Vegetable Couscous Salad, Vegetable Samosas, Caerphilly Salad, Cheesy Jacket Potatoes, Fruit Kebabs and Fruit Smoothies.
In Wales, the Cooking Bus targets primary schools in Communities First areas; the least well off parts of Wales.
There are also community sessions held on the Bus to deliver the same teaching to parents and carers. Pupils cover key aspects of food education including nutrition, food safety and hygiene and food preparation skills. The core of all lessons is hands-on cooking.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “The Cooking Bus is a wonderful hands-on way to spark interest in healthy eating among children.
“We know that children are more likely to eat healthy food if they play a part in making it, and the menu options are fun and attractive to children – even for fussy eaters.
“The Cooking Bus programme also values the importance of parents being involved in sessions so that they have a better understanding of healthy eating and how to prepare balanced meals.”
“If we want our children to eat well they have to learn to cook first,” says Anita Cormac, Director of Focus on Food.
This Focus on Food Cooking Bus was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to help take cooking skills into the community.
This is one of the steps outlined in its Food and Fitness Implementation Plan, part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to Health Challenge Wales – the national focus for action to improve health and well-being. The Implementation Plan sets out ways in which the Welsh Assembly Government helps children and young people to eat well, stay fit and achieve the highest standard of health. It increases the opportunities for young people to make informed decisions about diet and exercise, producing benefits that extend well into the future.
Date: 28 March – 1 April 2011
Venue: Ysgol Caer Drewyn
Clawdd Poncen
Corwen
Denbighshire, LL21 9RT
