SuperValu Launches New Healthy Kids Cooking Programme

91% of parents of primary school children would like to see children being taught how to cook in school, according to new research conducted by RED C Research on behalf of SuperValu. Not only do they see this as an important life skill, but they also believe it will encourage children to make healthier life choices. Acknowledging this, SuperValu, Ireland’s largest food retailer has launched its Cooking All-Stars, a new programme designed to teach primary school children the crucial life skill of cooking to ensure we are future proofing the next generation to be healthier and more confident in the kitchen. The programme will be rolled out to primary schools across the country from this month.

With the vast majority of parents of primary school children (85%) cooking at home most days, many (69%) are already involving their children in preparing meals.

However, parents cooking with their children tend to involve them in very basic tasks, with 78% getting their kids to stir the pot and 75% getting them to add ingredients to a bowl. The introduction of this school’s initiative further supports cooking activities and focuses on those basic cooking skills that will give children the extra confidence they need to ensure they understand the benefits of healthy nutritious food and how easy it is to make it.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Ciara Kelly said, “This initiative is so important for teaching children how to confidently cook at home. Cooking is a valuable life skill and starting early will ultimately develop a heathier and more rounded relationship with food. The SuperValu Cooking All-Stars will give kids, and more importantly their parents, the confidence to safely handle tricky and precarious tasks like preparing vegetables and safely cooking healthy recipes like scrambled eggs, banana pancakes and even a delicious quesadilla.”

Parents of primary school children also see the potential ancillary benefits teaching cooking in school could have: 89% agree that developing their children’s cooking skills will help them make heathier choices with their food, while 95% agree that it will teach them a valuable life skill at an early age. Not only that, parents were also of the view that it will encourage independence and self-confidence as they get older and provide valuable bonding time as a family.

Of the 31% of parents that don’t normally involve their children in cooking, they cite reasons for this as being concerned about their kids making a mess or that their children just aren’t interested in cooking. Developing their culinary skills in school and at the same time stimulating their interest in cooking will help challenge these obstacles.

Speaking about the initiative, Des O’Mahony, Marketing Director at SuperValu said, “This idea was born from our desire to help the next generation to eat healthier and develop an understanding of what constitutes good food. The programme was carefully designed by a panel of nutritionists, chefs and teachers to make sure that both the teachers and the children will enjoy the programme as well as learn about practical life skills and a healthy eating ethos along the way.”

SuperValu Cooking All-Stars will see the retailer sending each participating school a cooking kit which includes a large range of cooking utensils and equipment, a recipe book and each school will receive training on how to implement the programme in the class room.

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