Be a hero and eat wholesome food
Children across Lancashire are set to become 'Healthy Heroes' with the help of an exciting new activity pack launched in the county's primary schools.
The colourful packs include postcards of four Healthy Hero cartoon characters and their sidekick Freddie Frog, who were all designed with the help of local children.
Pupils at schools across the area are enthusiastically taking up the challenge of eating wholesome food and doing more exercise in order to reach the much-coveted Healthy Hero status.
The project, devised by Lancashire County Council's school meals staff, is proving so popular it could even go nationwide.
Under the scheme, children pick the Healthy Hero they identify most with, and then have to complete healthy tasks to earn a set of stickers – cape, belt, gauntlets and so on – which they add to their card until they have a fully kitted-out Hero.
It has been trialled in 30 schools over the past year.
One youngster, Craig McGown, 10, from Fulwood and Cadley Primary School in Preston, said: "I really enjoyed doing Healthy Heroes and it made me realise things I didn't know."
Thomas Perry, aged eight, from Our Lady and St Gerard's RC Primary School in Lostock Hall, added: "We decided to get the bikes out more and it has encouraged Mum and Dad to join in instead of just watching us."
Annette McNeil, teacher advisor for healthy schools, said: "We're thrilled with the response so far – it's been incredibly popular.
"What we want is for children and their families to achieve at least one lasting change towards a healthier lifestyle – and the pack is a fun way of doing this.
"For example, research shows that children who eat a good breakfast have better concentration at school and are less likely to snack between meals, so just that one change can make a real difference."
The Healthy Heroes Family Activity Resource was developed by the Lancashire Healthy Schools Programme in partnership with local Primary Care Trusts and teachers.
Among the schools taking part in the pilot were Morecambe West End Primary; Kirkham and Wesham Primary; Fulwood and Cadley Primary, Fulwood, Preston; Our Lady and St Gerard's Primary, Lostock Hall; Clayton Brook Primary; Willow Lane Primary, Lancaster; Mossgate Primary, Heysham; Kirkland and Catterall Primary, St Helens; Wrea Green Primary; Weeton Primary; St Michael's , Kirkham; Medlar with Wesham Primary; St Augustine's Primary, Preston; Roebuck Primary, Preston; Woodlea Junior, Leyland; Tarleton Holy Trinity; Gillibrand Primary, Chorley; Chorley St James; St Mary's Primary, Chorley; and Eccleston St Mary's.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 24 May 2012
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