Pupils award for diet ideas (From Penarth Times)

Pupils award for diet ideas

PUPILS from St Cyres have collected a Welsh award for their campaign to improve the diet of young people.

Pupils Gabriella Bennett, Daniella Bennett and Naomi Foster collected their award from Children's Minister Jane Hutt after presenting their work at the Millennium Centre.

Pupils were initially invited to write to Jamie Oliver expressing their views on school meals as part of a competition organised by the Welsh Food Alliance.

The award follows the setting up of a working party at St Cyres School to look at the whole issue of health and fitness.

In researching for the award, the Year 10 group carried out a survey to look at the food and drink currently on offer and to ask pupils their opinions.

The group found that a number of positive steps had already been taken and that food on sale at St Cyres is generally good with fruit available daily and chips on sale only one day a week.

However, some pupils were still choosing crisps, chocolate cake and fizzy drinks without thinking about the impact on their health.

The Year 10 group made suggestions for improving food and health. These included setting up healthy breakfast clubs and fruit tuck shops, free access to drinking water, washed and chopped salad and vegetables to be available from school vending machines.

Jean Sullivan, event organiser, said: "The team from St Cyres impressed the judges with their depth of knowledge and research and gave a stunning presentation at the Millennium Centre."