Sugar Smart Somerset takes a whole school approach to improve children's health

The council are encouraging schools, businesses and individuals in the county to get ‘Sugar Smart’.

Somerset County Council is putting extra focus on primary and secondary schools to ensure as many county children and families take part in the campaign.

Their whole school approach to tackling sugar includes:

• free Sugar Smart awareness training session for school staff
• using school websites and newsletters and posters to share the messages with parents
• sugar-free packed lunch and snack policies
• improving tuck shop and vending options
• promotion of easy access to fresh, clean drinking water
   

Cllr Christine Lawrence, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said:

“Most of us eat too much sugar. It’s surprising how much sugar is lurking in everyday food and drink. But there are simple ways to make changes such as swapping sweet drinks for water or milk, snacking on fruit and veg and leaving sugary treats out of the lunchbox.

Small changes can make a big difference and I would encourage our schools, residents and organisations in Somerset to sign up and become Sugar Smart.”

If you're interested in running a Sugar Smart campaign in your local area, check out our website to find out more.

Sugar Smart is a campaign run by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. Sugar Smart is one of the featured campaigns in the UK's Sustainable Food Cities network.