Birds Eye’s Green Cuisine releases new schools report

A new report from Birds Eye’s Green Cuisine brand has found that primary schools are particularly influential on social and environmental issues, such as what can be done about climate change. The detailed study of 1,000 youngsters aged six to 12, and their parents, delves into children’s views and insights on how behaviours at home affect the planet, and is backed by child clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey.

The report in particular reveals that 70% of children say teachers are the people they listen to most about protecting the planet. A huge 90% say they like learning about how they can help to do so.

Some 46%, meanwhile, would like to see more meat-free meals being served in a bid to help the environment. A further 34% have asked an adult if they could eat a meal that doesn’t include any meat, with 42% reckoning they probably wouldn’t notice if it wasn’t included. 

Holly Marrero Easson, out-of-home marketing manager for Green Cuisine, said: “It’s clear that many children are becoming the mini educators of the household now, responsible for influencing attitudes and behaviours towards littering, use of plastic and food consumption. Teachers and schools play an incredibly important role in helping to shape their thinking.

“We know children are hungry to learn and better the planet, and this research has highlighted that they have important views they’d like to be taken seriously by adults. It’s therefore vital that we, as adults, are giving them the right support to make these positive changes, particularly small and simple adjustments like having the option to enjoy more plant-based meals at school every week. The more we can put healthy school meals in front of children and educate them on the environment, the more we will start to make positive impacts on our planet.”

The news comes as Birds Eye Green Cuisine has launched a Go Green Lunch Schools Trust Initiative across 31 schools, to encourage children to learn more about where their food comes from and the importance of plant-based food. Working with the Enquire Learning Trust, the company has helped introduce plant-based menus twice a week at schools to encourage them to embrace how cutting meat from their diets can protect the planet.

An activity pack is also available to each participating school. These include educational quizzes and word searches, along with a voucher for gardening equipment for students to grow their own peas.

Easson added: “From the research we know how clued-up children are, so it’s important that brands like us are supporting schools and educating the next generation about what action they can take to protect the planet. The activity packs are an important part of this support, as is the launch of more meat-free lunch days, which help to encourage children to embrace plant-based foods for the benefit of their health and that of the Earth too.”

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