East Suffolk Council
New booklet to help children make healthier choices
Primary school children in Lowestoft and the surrounding area are being encouraged to make healthy changes through a new project funded by the Lowestoft and northern parishes Community Partnership.
The Community Partnership, working with Lowestoft Rising, has created Lowestoft Healthy Habits booklets which have been delivered to 1,750 students in Years 5 and 6 in all primary schools across Lowestoft, Pakefield, Carlton Colville, Oulton Broad and the surrounding villages.
Lowestoft Healthy Habits is an activity booklet which aims to encourage children and their families to make healthier food choices and be more active, leading to an overall improvement in their physical and mental health. The booklets contain contributions from the National Literacy Trust, Suffolk Mind, Active Suffolk and the Community Dental Service.
Schools have been provided with a lesson plan to help children learn more about healthy choices, and the children will also receive certificates for taking part in the activities.
Cllr Paul Ashdown, Chair of the Lowestoft and northern parishes Community Partnership and East Suffolk councillor for the Lothingland ward said: “One of the Community Partnership's priorities is to help young people to make healthier food choices, giving them the opportunity to develop healthy habits which will benefit their health and wellbeing now and as they get older. These new booklets provide a starting point for the children, and their families, to try some new recipes, challenges and activities. I would especially like to thank Sally Connick and the National Literacy Trust for all their efforts on this project.”
Sally Connick, Project Manager at the National Literacy Trust said: “Reading is a great way to boost your mood and learn about the world around you. Our contribution to this booklet informs families about our free story trails in the community and encourages children to find the book, comic or magazine that sparks their love of reading.”
Booklets were hand delivered to pupils at Blundeston , Somerleyton, Poplars and Phoenix St Peter primary schools on Tuesday 31 October by members of the Community Partnership.
Earlier this year the Community Partnership, working with the Lowestoft Timebank, ran the ‘Pulsate’ project which promoted cooking with pulses to create affordable and nutritious family meals. A Pulsate recipe is included in the Healthy Habits booklets.