To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, children at Longtown Primary School learned about fresh produce and the importance of a balanced diet.
The school were visited by a representative of SPAR as part of their drive to mark the week, who provided the children with an interactive educational talk whilst encouraging healthy alternatives to the traditional packed lunchbox.
Wilf Whittle, fresh food trading manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s North of England wholesaler and distributor, was on hand to provide fun facts, vouchers,as well as a bunch of fresh fruit with the students.
Wilf said he was delighted to visit the school during one of his favourite weeks of the year.
"The enthusiasm the children had for fresh food was great to see, and after two years where we have not been able to get out into the communities we serve across the North of England, it was fantastic to be welcomed so warmly into the school," he said.
Lauren Hitchen, deputy headteacher at Longtown Primary School thanked Wilf for engaging with the students on the topic of a healthy diet.
"It is hugely important to instil the benefits of a balanced diet into our children from a young age and consuming your recommended five-a-day is something that all pupils at Longtown Primary School embrace.
"We were thrilled to receive the vouchers from James Hall & Co. Ltd too, and I know these will be well used in Longtown’s SPAR stores which are integral to our community."
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Jennifer Miller, 11, who is in Year 6 at the school, said: "Wilf’s talk was really good and it was great to be part of the visit. One fact I learned is that carrots were originally purple.
"I enjoy eating fruit and vegetables, and peppers and chillies are my favourite as I love tacos. I also bring to school a healthy lunchbox with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and chopped carrot."
Harrison Park, 10, who is in Year 5, said: "Before Wilf’s talk I didn’t know that sprouts are planted in April or May in time for Christmas, or that bananas come from South America."
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