PhunkyFoods

PhunkyFoods is a curriculum based schools programme which teaches primary school children fundamental life skills relating to nutrition, physical activity and food choice.

Based on nutritionists’ concerns that unhealthy eating habits are formed early in life, PhunkyFoods works by helping schools to train teaching assistants to deliver engaging classes on healthier lifestyles to children. It was created by Purely Nutrition, a Yorkshire-based nutritional consultancy specialising in training techniques for the incorporation of healthy eating and physical activity messages into daily life. 

The programme educates children in a fun and engaging way, with lesson content making use of music, art and drama. All lesson materials are written and developed by independent registered nutritionists and teachers and draw from a wide range of sources including the British Nutrition Foundation, the British Heart Foundation and the FSA.

Built around 39 weekly lessons plans, and supporting 5 to 11 year olds from Years 1 to 6, schools are provided with a resource toolkit, initial training, web-based lesson plans, an 'ask the expert' facility and online Q&As.  

Shools receive all the resources and lesson plans needed to deliver PhunkyFoods into the classroom.   As a result of Northern Foods’ funding over the last two years, 100 schools in Yorkshire have now taken part in the programme.

Research of a pilot in September 2006 showed that, by following the lesson plans provided, children’s ability to identify healthier food choices increased over a six month period. The success of these early pilots means that PhunkyFoods has now attracted the support of Local Education Authorities from across the UK. Additionally, through Northern Foods’ mentoring, PhunkyFoods has also attracted further food industry sponsorship, allowing it to be rolled out nationally.

If you are a school and are interested in delivering PhunkyFoods in your classroom, please log on to the PhunkyFoods website at www.phunkyfoods.co.uk

Programme benefits

PhunkyFoods works in practice and headteachers have told us they love it. The programme is simple to implement in the school because all the lesson planning and resources is provided. The school and the person delivering the lessons are supported through a network of other participating schools and are fully trained in lesson delivery.

The children themselves endorse that view: “I really like PhunkyFoods classes as I like the art and drawing the different fruits and vegetables”, claims one child from Year 6.  “I really liked tasting Lychees as they were white and fluffy and really sweet. My mum has started buying them now and my sister likes them too.”