Supermarket shopping with a focus on health
PRIMARY school pupils from across Sligo got the chance to go on a shopping spree with a difference recently thanks to a new health initiative for children.
Super Troopers run by Laya Healthcare aims to educate children at a young age the importance of eating a health balanced diet.
As part of that nationwide programme kids from St. Teresa’s School in Ballintogher (pictured) stopped off at SuperValu Ballisodare last week for a ‘nutri-safari.’
There was great excitement among the aisles as the young explorers went on the safari with a tasty twist.
Store Manager Ray Carthy says: “We are thrilled to be the official partner of the Super Troopers programme, as it gives us the opportunity to highlight the importance of nutrition in a fun and interactive way.
“Children are becoming interested in cooking and food at a much younger age today, so it is important that they know some of the basics of how food can fuel their body.”
The children got to pick up tips on nutrition, well being and fun recipe ideas, while also getting to tantalise their taste buds with some healthy bites.
Dietitian Marie Boyce was the expert guide. The tour visited different stations throughout the store inspired by the food pyramid.
At each appetising stop, students were given plenty of food for thought from Head Butcher Adrian Keanan, Bakers Teresa Mooney and Nicola Kierans, and the Head of Fresh Produce, Tony O’Reilly.
The culinary adventure allowed the children to examine, experiment and taste a wide range of food and drinks, which some students may not have been exposed to previously such as Goat’s cheese or nut milks.
Marie explains: “In this stimulating environment children learned the benefits of eating and drinking different food types for example cheese as a source of protein for growth and repair in the body, or the importance of fish as a source of Omega3.”
Ray says: “My team and I were amazed by some of the questions and knowledge that the students of St. Teresa’s National School had, and we loved to see them pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones trying new and unusual foods.”
All students who took part in the Nutri-Safari received a jam-packed goodie bag to take home and continue their food journey. These take away bags included rec- ipe cards, nutritional information leaflets, healthy snacks and fruit.
St Joseph’s National School and Scoil Mhuire Agus Iosaf are other primary schools who set out on safari in their local SuperValu in Sligo last month.
The SuperValu Nutri-Safaris are just one element of the healthy eating aspect of this campaign, which also includes recipes and nutritional top tips.