Mum says Tesco school food scheme has changed how her family eat at home
Only 12% of children aged between 11 and 18 are meeting the five-a-day recommendation, according to the government's National Diet and Nutrition Survey. A British Nutrition Foundation study found that only 14% of 4-10 year olds and 4% of 11-18 year olds are meeting recommended fibre intakes needed to keep the gut healthy and reduce the risk of disease in later life.
And, on average, just 11% of 4-10 year olds and 18% of 11-18 year olds have low intakes of vitamin A, which is important for the immune system, vision and healthy skin. Data shows that families on lower incomes struggle to afford a healthy diet which is why the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme was launched in October 2024.
The £4 million project directly targets children in areas with higher free school meal participation. It is hoped that children taking part will see their overall fruit and veg intake increase by 23%, based on the average 5-a-day intakes in school-aged children.
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One of the schools taking advantage of the programme is Holly Hill Church School in Rubery. And it's working. One mum, whose son Eli goes to the school, said she and her family had seen a change in their eating habits as a result of the scheme.
She said: "Since Holly Hill Church School has been giving Eli and his classmates the fruit for breakfast through Tesco Fruit & Veg For Schools, when we go shopping, Eli is pointing out the more exotic fruits, telling us he has enjoyed them at school.
"Because of this we are buying and eating a wider variety at home now as well. Eli loves going to school to see what is being offered each day for breakfast. It is a great scheme, with some wide-reaching benefits and I hope it continues!"
The school is one of many that have now been given a slow cooker by Tesco so that children can learn how to prepare hearty, nutritious meals at school, then take them home to enjoy with their families.
Holly Hill Church School headteacher Mark Carr said: "The Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools scheme has allowed us to help children try fruit and veg that they wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to try, resulting in them getting a healthier diet and making healthier choices.
"The children look forward to their breakfast fruit snacks and are excited to come to school to see what they have that day. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries have been the biggest hits so far."
Since the launch of the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme in October 2024, thousands of children have been tucking into a piece of fresh fruit or veg every day.
In fact, the supermarket giant says that almost 2.5 million portions of fruit and veg have been consumed, weighing more than 194,000 kilos.
Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco said: "Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools is making a significant difference by providing young people in some of the most challenged communities in the UK with more of the essential vitamins and minerals that children need to thrive. The slow cookers will help schools go even further in encouraging pupils to give healthy foods a try and form habits that will stay with them as they grow up."
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