This action pack has been developed as part of the Grab 5! project for primary schools wanting to encourage their children to eat more fruit and vegetables. The project was tested in primary schools in Lambeth, Leeds and Plymouth between 2001 and 2002. Results were very positive - children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increased significantly, awareness of the benefits of healthy eating improved and schools enjoyed many engaging and valuable healthy eating activities. We hope that this pack, along with the other Grab 5! materials, will be used as widely as possible by any school interested in promoting healthy eating. It may be particularly useful to schools undertaking the healthy eating strand of the Healthy Schools programme.

Wherever possible the pack highlights further sources of information - books, websites and organisations. It tries to draw together as many ideas as possible that may be useful for you and your school rather than offer a one-size-fits-all programme. Please follow up ideas that fit your school.

Who is this action pack for?
Grab 5! focuses on nutritional change and education in schools, so obviously the participation of teachers is essential. However it is crucial that a wide range of other people are involved - both to provide expertise and support and also, importantly, to give their time and energy to organising, co-ordinating, inspiring, chopping, washing, cooking, distributing, buying, selling and promoting fruit and vegetables.

This pack has been designed for anyone who may want to promote fruit and vegetables and healthy eating in school. You may be a class teacher, head or deputy head. You may be a healthy schools co-ordinator or a Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) coordinator, science coordinator or design and technology coordinator. You may be a caterer, school nurse or youth worker. You may be a parent or governor. You may be a health promotion specialist, a community dietitian or simply someone who wants to improve children's health.

The policy context
In 2004 the Government launched the Public Health White Paper; Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier. Recognising the importance of childhood nutrition, it sets out several targets relevant to food in schools, including the requirement that all schools aim to:

• deliver clear and consistent messages about nutrition and healthy eating,
  
• provide opportunities to learn about diet, nutrition, food safety and hygiene, food preparation and cooking as well as where food comes from, and
  
• actively promote healthy food and drink as part of an enjoyable and balanced diet and restrict the availability and promotion of other options.

Ofsted inspectors are to look at healthy eating in schools and, by 2009, all schools should have reached healthy schools status of the Healthy Schools programme. This programme is a government initiative aiming to help schools become healthier places for staff and pupils to work and learn, looking at environmental, physical and mental health. Healthy eating is a key strand of the Healthy Schools programme.

The White Paper also makes a commitment to improving school meals with greater investment, revised school meal standards and provision of training, guidance and suport via a School Food Trust. At the time of writing, however, details were not available.
The Grab 5! programme provides invaluable support and guidance for schools and others working towards these Governement objectives.

What’s in the pack?
The first three sections introduce the basic issues around fruit and veg promotion and a whole school approach to food in schools. You may want to read through these sections before you start. The fourth and fifth sections contain a toolkit of ideas and information you may find useful to get a Grab 5! project going in your school. The last section lists additional contacts and publications.