A FUN and engaging healthy eating campaign targeted at Scotland's school children was launched today at the Scottish Executive's Hungry for Success conference in Inverness. Organised by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) and Seafood Scotland, and funded by Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) , the campaign aims to highlight the many health benefits of eating oil-rich fish to children and their parents.
Two thousand colourful promotional packs, featuring cartoon characters The SuperHumans, have been sent to primary schools throughout Scotland. The schools will receive the packs, along with posters to advertise the campaign, and herring and mackerel recipe ideas for catering staff.
Every time a child chooses an oil-rich fish dish at lunch time they will receive a sticker which they attach to an information leaflet. If they've chosen a fish dish every week for the duration of the four week campaign, they will receive a SuperHumans club card. Each sticker promotes the benefits of eating oil-rich fish to their skin, eyes, heart, brains and bones. A web site, www.thesuperhumans.co.uk has also been created featuring the SuperHuman cartoons so that children can learn even more about how eating oil-rich fish can be both fun and good for them.
There are over 5,000 scientific papers about the benefits of omega-3. A specific type of omega-3 fatty acids, which can only be found in some fish and shellfish, is widely recognised for its health benefits, and this is why the Scottish Executive has included oil-rich fish within Hungry for Success, an initiative that aims to ensure that Scotland has a better school meals service.
“Under our lunchtime guidelines, oil-rich fish should be on the menu in the school dining hall at least once each week. Children should be encouraged to try this nutritional and tasty option, especially since recent findings suggest fish oils may well improve their grades as well as their health!” explains Peter Peacock, Children's Education Minister for Scotland.
Karen Galloway, Youth Marketing Manager at Seafish says: “The SuperHumans are fun cartoon characters that gain super powers from eating oil-rich fish. Seafish, Seafood Scotland and The SuperHumans are all really looking forward to playing their part in enthusing children about healthy eating and we are grateful for the Scottish Executive's support.”
www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish European Fish Trader, Fishing Monthly, Fish Farming Today, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.
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