How children have been learning about food in Portsmouth over the summerÂ

FOOD has taken centre stage for several youngsters during the summer holidays. Â
Children enjoy a healthy meal at Somers Town Adventure PlaygroundChildren enjoy a healthy meal at Somers Town Adventure Playground
Children enjoy a healthy meal at Somers Town Adventure Playground

Portsmouth City Council has run six schemes from adventure playgrounds throughout the summer to educate students on healthy eating and to provide food.

The '˜Summer Food For Fun' programme aims to '˜provide young people with a delicious healthy meal throughout the holidays'.

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Data from 2017 highlights the popularity of the programme with 4,500 meals provided for local children over the summer holidays.

Children enjoy a healthy meal at Somers Town Adventure PlaygroundChildren enjoy a healthy meal at Somers Town Adventure Playground
Children enjoy a healthy meal at Somers Town Adventure Playground

Health development officer Holly Eastlick said: '˜The project is about providing a service that could feed the children a healthy home-cooked meal whilst at the same time allowing them to spend time in the park.'

Colleague, Marshada Chowdhury, said: '˜We have been doing quite a lot of cultural cooking with different foods from around the world. It is also an opportunity whilst the children are on site to provide them with a healthy meal.'

A key aspect of the programme is about providing education with the children involved in growing and preparing the food.

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Lilian Harris, nine, said: '˜I started my own garden growing eggplants, tomatoes and onions. We use the vegetables to make soups.'

Health Development Officers Marshada Chowdhury (second left) and Holly Eastlick (third from right) alongside staff of Somers Town Adventure PlaygroundHealth Development Officers Marshada Chowdhury (second left) and Holly Eastlick (third from right) alongside staff of Somers Town Adventure Playground
Health Development Officers Marshada Chowdhury (second left) and Holly Eastlick (third from right) alongside staff of Somers Town Adventure Playground

Christian Larkin, nine, added: '˜I like to get fruit such as apples when I come down. I helped to grow the vegetables such as the tomatoes.'

One of the most popular meals is beans on toast with the beans provided by Portsmouth Food Bank. Whilst a key component of the project is focused on education, Portsmouth Food Bank manager, Carly Butler believes that for some children the food provided is an essential necessity over the summer holidays.

'˜There are a lot of children who will be out of their homes for the day because their parents simply can't feed them. They will go to the playgrounds and whilst they are there be provided with a meal because when the playgrounds shut the many of the children won't be able to go home for lunch,' explained Mrs Butler.  Â