Schools and Early Years Settings have been serving bowls of porridge to children and families, giving them the best start to the day, as part of the Council’s Porridge Day on Friday 6th March.
Cllr Dine Romero (Lib-Dem, Southdown) Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth said: “A healthy breakfast gives you fuel for the day, but research shows a lot of children miss out breakfast altogether.
“We hope Porridge Day will encourage young people to develop healthy eating habits which will last a lifetime.”
This is the third year Bath and North East Somerset’s Food Forum has organised the event with the support of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Catering Service who offered all schools and early years’ settings free porridge if they take part.
“Eating porridge is a great way to start the day,” said Judy Allies, Bath & North East Somerset’s Health in Schools Programme Co-ordinator.
“A healthy breakfast can make a big difference to a child’s concentration, energy levels and even behaviour throughout the day. A healthy breakfast helps cut down on snacking too.
“Porridge is a great example of a ‘slow release’ energy packed breakfast. It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals and does not have any added sugar.
“Processed sugary cereals provide ‘empty’ calories and little energy to see children through until lunch.”
The Porridge Day links with Change for Life’s Sugar Swap Campaign, encouraging families to reduce children’s sugar consumption by swapping sugary cereals for breakfasts such as porridge, wheat or rice cereals.
You can sign up to Change for Life and make a swap on your breakfast choices here: http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/breakfast-for-life.aspx
