- Almost 20 MILLION portions of fruit and veg were eaten by up to 186,000 UK pupils in the first two years of Tesco’s Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, backed by the British Nutrition Foundation
- Scheme expanded to support over 1,000 schools
- 103 types of fruit & veg eaten as part of the programme
Tesco has unwrapped the fruit and veg habits of school children attending schools supported by Tesco’s Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme who have munched their way through almost 20 million portions in the first two years of the scheme.
From crunchy carrots to juicy grapes, the huge amount of healthy food enjoyed by pupils has had a significantly positive impact on their nutrition – with the kids seeing an average 4.2% increase in Vitamin C intake alone in the last year.
And the scheme isn’t only filling tummies but has the potential to transform pupils’ behaviour as well: 94% of teachers also reported improved behaviour from kids, including sharper focus and more energy in the classroom.
Now in its third year, the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, has expanded to support over 1,000 schools.
Their latest Impact Report, which analyses the effects of the free fruit and veg on up to 186,000 children, is showing amazing results. The produce has also boosted Vitamin A by 1.7%, fibre intakes increased by 2.1% and folate, which reduces tiredness, was up by 1.8%.
With more than 1,500 tonnes of fruit and veg provided to schools through the programme since its inception, and with the purchasing power in the hands of the pupils, the till receipts made for interesting reading. To date, youngsters have sampled 103 types of fruit and veg. The most popular fruits were apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi and grapes; and top of the veggies were potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and onions!
Elaine McCallum, Deputy Head Teacher, Cleeves Primary School, said: “Having access to fruit every day makes a real difference. For some of our children, it may be the only fruit they have that day, so making sure everyone can have a healthy snack is really important. We’re trying to encourage children to choose fruit over sweets and unhealthy snacks, and having something nutritious during the school day can only help with their concentration and make sure they’re ready to learn.”
Claire de Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said: “Schools continue to tell us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit and Veg for Schools programme has made on their children including sharper focus, more energy and better behaviour. Teachers all agreed that the scheme has made a positive difference to the lives of each young person it has reached. But we can do more. That’s why in this academic year, we are extending the scheme even further, to include more than 1,000 schools, to reach more children in the most challenged communities in the UK get access to the fruit and veg they need.”
Pupils who participated in the first two years of the scheme ate 60 portions of fruit and veg, on average, with every single teacher asked agreeing that it has had a positive impact on their pupils. Nearly all (98%) teachers said the scheme encourages pupils to eat a wider variety of fruit and 94% reported improved behaviour. It’s also encouraged children to try new and unusual foods, including ones that can be hard to access on a restricted budget – like blueberries, watermelon, asparagus and more.
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “It’s incredibly encouraging to see the difference this programme is making for children and schools. We know that eating well can support children’s health, wellbeing and ability to learn, but that access to healthy food can be a challenge. That’s why we’re so pleased to see the programme continuing to grow, having already provided almost 20 million portions of fruit and vegetables and now reaching 1,000 schools. We’re proud to work with Tesco on an initiative that is helping more children enjoy healthy foods and build positive eating habits that can last a lifetime.”
In addition to Free Fruit & Veg for Schools, Tesco is also supporting schools and kid’s groups through its Fruit & Veg Grants blue token scheme where customers have the chance to vote in store to award new grants to their favourite community groups.
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