Improving health and health inequalities are a priority for Government and there are a number of national and regional activities taking place in the North East to address this such as:

 

5 A Day Scheme

The National Health Service launched the 5 A Day scheme to encourage everyone to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables to help set people up with a healthier lifestyle. Benefits include: helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, some cancers and maintaining a healthy weight.

 

The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is part of the 5 A Day programme to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed by school children aged 4 to 6. The scheme includes apples, pears, bananas, easy peel citrus fruits, carrots, cherry tomatoes and strawberries. Cucumbers and sugar-snap peas will be introduced shortly. No fruit or vegetables are excluded but the scheme is keen to encourage children to consume greater volumes of fruit and vegetables at other times during the day.

For more information on how to supply or distribute fresh fruit and vegetables to schools or other general information about the 5 A Day Scheme or School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme please click here.

 

Food and Health Action Plan

The Department of Health is working with Government, the food industry and other key stakeholders to develop a Food and Health Action plan to help people in England improve their diets. The plan will bring together in one place action to meet all White Paper commitments relating to food and nutrition, as well as further activity across Government to encourage healthier eating.

For more information please go to the Department of Health website by clicking here.

An event was held on 10 February 2006:
Transforming School Meals - Linking Policy and Practice. 

Further information for the event is as follows:

The Policy Context

Hungry for Success

School Food Trust