PUPILS from schools across North Yorkshire gathered to mark the end of a two-year healthy eating project.

Food For Life was set up by the Soil Association as a national scheme to encourage pupils to make good food a central part of the school day, and help them understand where their food comes from with farm visits and practical cooking and growing.

The celebration was held at Allerton Court Hotel in Northallerton, and pupils took part in four food and physical activity themed workshops, cooked recipes from ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ chef Nigel Brown, and got active with North Yorkshire Sport.

County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, and County Councillor Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for the Children and Young People’s Service, presented certificates to the children, from schools around the county.

Cllr Dickinson said: "This is a fantastic achievement and the schools who have achieved their Bronze Award can be very proud of themselves.

"They have all worked very hard to deliver the Food for Life programme, using the children’s ideas about how to improve their lunchtime experience at school, such as reducing queues and noise levels in the dining room. The schools are now growing and cooking more of their own produce. Pupils have led assemblies on healthy eating and sustainable food sourcing such as Fairtrade, and taken part in after-school healthy cookery sessions with their parents and carers."

Cllr Sanderson said: "Helping pupils to lead a healthier lifestyle in North Yorkshire is one of the key aims in the Young and Yorkshire children and young people’s plan, ‘ensuring a healthy start to life, with more children and young people leading healthy lifestyles’."

To find out more about the national Food for Life programme, go to foodforlife.org.uk/schools