Pupils will be helped to eat more healthily thanks to an exciting new initiative being launched this autumn.

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As part of a major city wide scheme, more than 200 children at Bilston C of E Primary School will be introduced to the Food Dudes Dining Experience - and given incentives to choose healthy options at lunchtime.

The initiative is the latest aspect of Wolverhampton City Council's Food Dudes programme, which has already helped thousands of young people improve their diets by eating more fruit and vegetables.

Fruit and vegetables will be placed more prominently on the serving counter, encouraging pupils to select them first, and Food Dudes Coaches - including lunchtime supervisors and older children - will be on hand to reward them.

Pupils who have eaten healthily will receive special Food Dudes privileges, with those who have done particularly well earning the right to eat from a special gold tray at the end of the week. Additional incentives will also be given to the class eating the most fruit and vegetables each week.

School cooks have been given special training to improve their knowledge about nutrition as part of the new scheme, which will be rolled out to other primary schools across the city over the coming months.

Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Well-being, said: "Children who eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables are less likely to become obese than children on poorer diets.

"Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables also offers protection against many cancers, lowers the risk of coronary heart disease, protects against asthma and helps prevent diabetes - as well as keeping skin, teeth and hair healthy."

Wolverhampton is one of the first areas in the country to roll out the Food Dudes Dining Experience to its primary schools and Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning, said: "The Food Dudes are giving our city's children the superpowers they need to live a healthy life.

"They have already helped set thousands of young people onto the path to good health and I'm delighted that Food Dudes Dining Experience is being introduced to continue this good work."

The Food Dudes programme is run by Food Dudes Health, a social enterprise that works in partnership with Bangor University, and is based on the key psychological factors influencing children's food choices.

Professor Fergus Lowe, CEO of Food Dudes Health, said: "I am pleased that Wolverhampton is once again helping to lead the way nationally in combating obesity and promoting healthy eating for children and their families."

The Food Dudes are children who equip themselves with the superpowers they need to win their battle with General Junk and his Junk Punks by eating healthily - encouraging their peers to enjoy eating diets rich in fruit and vegetables. Wolverhampton received the Chief Medical Officer's Gold Medal for Public Health in 2010 for its success running the programme in the city.

  • released: Tuesday 3 September, 2013