Who can conduct food preparation sessions?
In order to conduct food preparation sessions with school students, a qualified food handler must be present. This can be achieved by completing an appropriate online course.
Tips for primary teachers on class cooking / food preparation sessions
- Choose a recipe suitable to your age-group. For younger children you may prefer snacks that can be ‘put together’ rather than cooked.
- Use only healthy ingredients. Exclude sugar, preservatives, artificial colours and flavours. Include a variety of fresh ingredients, as close to nature as possible.
- Send the recipe home with the children in advance, and ask whether any child has an allergy to any of the ingredients.
- Make sure you have plenty of parent help, especially when children are using knives for chopping, or stoves. Divide the class into groups of no more than 6 per group, so that there is plenty of adult supervision.
- For younger children there may be preparation needed before the session starts. e.g. produce to be chopped. If this is the case, ask parents to come early!
- Plan your shopping list and ask a parent to go shopping for you.
- Have the recipe printed out for session helpers – enough for one recipe per group.
Whole school project
If every class in the school is taking part in “Healthy Food Week”, limit the number of recipes to two. Choose one recipe for the junior school and one recipe for the older children. This means better economy with food, and less stress.
Look at our New Start Tried and Proven Recipes for some ideas!