OUR "SCHOOL Lunchtime Challenge" project is all about using developmental sensory stages of eating, that aims to help children eat more healthily in the longer term, through identifying a specific way of helping these children develop their tastes, we can deliver a project that is easy to replicate in similar schools around the country.

Pupils are given educational sessions on how to make a healthier food choice that also gives pupils confidence to ask their parents for healthier packed lunches.

The pupils are rewarded for making healthier food choices that is hoped will increases the overall uptake of school meals.

Through a Football type competition, points or (goals) are scored through choosing healthy foods, the healthier the food chosen by the young person, the more points / goals will be scored.

To create positive peer pressure, all the scoring is collated by the pupils involved.

Our role is to help raise awareness and create an interest in healthy foods, during our time spent with the young people; we talk about the players "Healthy Lifestyles" and their "Healthy Football Foods" which is enforced through a strong communication network of the latest results through posters, TV, cartoon characters, teacher's etc- with this support pupils interest is maintained and excitement grows.

In Bolton, just over 25 per cent of four and five-year-olds and nearly 30 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight.

This work is all about partnerships and we are extremely please to be working alongside Bolton's School Meals Service and Bolton's Healthy Schools Team.