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What is Grab 5!?
Grab 5! is a programme for primary schools wanting to encourage
their children to eat more fruit and vegetables. Schools involved
in Grab 5! carry out a wide range of practical activities including
fruit and vegetable tasting sessions, setting up fruit tuck shops,
breakfast clubs, growing clubs, cooking clubs, visits to farms and
many more (see the list on pages 21-22). However, vital to the success
of any such project is the approach the school adopts and the process
they go through. The Grab 5! approach and process is characterised
by:
- Ownership. Schools decide for themselves what activities
would best meet their needs and how they will be implemented and
sustained.
- Participation. All relevant people are involved in the
process of consultation, auditing, action planning, implementation
and monitoring. This includes head teachers, teaching staff, kitchen
supervisors, children, parents, governors and outside agencies,
- Consistency. Activities carried out in schools are not
seen in isolation but are part of an holistic approach to improving
food and nutrition in the school. Schools work towards adopting
a food policy, which helps to bring about permanent positive change
and ensure messages about healthy eating are consistent through
out the school day.
Grab 5! was tested in primary schools in Lambeth, Leeds and Plymouth
between June 2000 and July 2001. The evaluation of the pilot project
was carried out by the British Heart Foundation Health Promotion
Research Group. The evaluation showed that the project was successful.
Outcomes included:
- A significant increase in consumption of fruit and vegetables,
from 1.7 portions per child per day at the beginning of the project
to 2.2 portion at the end of the project, a percentage increase
of approximately 30%.
- A reduction in the consumption in high fat snacks.
- A significant increase in knowledge about fruit and vegetables.
- A significant increase in preferences for healthy food choices.
School staff indicated that the success of the Grab 5! process
was enhanced by its flexibility, so it could fit in with school
plans of work and the National Curriculum.
'Grab 5! paved the way for the school fruit
scheme'
Plymouth steering group member
The Grab 5! team has identified five key elements of support as
essential for implementing Grab 5! in an area. Any organisation
or individual wanting to promote fruit and vegetables in primary
schools should consider how these elements can be provided. They
are:
- A coordinator. A coordinator is vital for keeping motivation
going amongst all the participants, organising and running training
days, visiting and phoning schools to discuss plans, liaising
with local partners, providing practical support to schools (e.g.
talks in assemblies, tasting sessions), co-ordinating borough/city-wide
initiatives, and much more.
Cost: Salary. The post could be full-time or part-time,
a new post or be incorporated into an existing post, such as a
Healthy Schools coordinator or health promotion advisor.
- Training days for school staff and caterers. These introduce
participants to the programme of activities that could be included
in a school fruit and vegetable promotion project, whether Grab
5!, a government initiative, or an entirely independent initiative.
Training provides motivation, advice and essential information.
Cost: Supply cover at approximately £150 per teacher
(optional), venue hire, food and refreshments.
- Grab 5! packs. After undertaking a survey of healthy
eating materials available to schools, the Grab 5! team decided
none of it was entirely suitable for the Grab 5! project, so we
produced our own pack. It includes an action pack that defines
the whole school approach, gives practical suggestions on how
to implement activities such as fruit tuck shops and growing schemes,
and gives contact details of useful organisations; a curriculum
pack that provides ideas for classroom activities related to food
and nutrition linked to the key stage 2 curriculum; a model food
policy that provides a framework for schools wanting to adopt
a food policy; a CD Rom that demonstrates a range of Grab 5! activities;
and a summary of the evaluation report.
Cost: £40 per pack. One pack required per school
(also available free on the website)
- A local support network/steering group. It's important
not to try to take on this task alone. You can find helpful local
partners from, for example, the health authority, the education
authority, the Healthy Schools scheme, local community groups
and the school catering service. See page 6 for a more comprehensive
list.
Cost: Should not be a cost
- Time. Don't underestimate how long the process will take,
but good preparation pays dividends in the end. See below for
the timetable that Grab 5! followed during the pilot phase.
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