Football star kick starts healthy eating

Jermaine Jenas cooking at the launch

Jermaine Jenas, a midfielder for Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur has launched a new healthy eating programme, 'Kick and Cook'.

The programme works with North London secondary schools promoting healthy living amongst young people through workshops on how to prepare healthy meals.

Jenas joined secondary school pupils from St Thomas More School, Wood Green, in cooking a lasagne from scratch in the kitchens at White Hart Lane.

The group of budding chefs received instruction from professional chef Lionel Khelil from the Haringey Sixth Form Centre and assistance from caterers KUDOS.

Jenas said: "Healthy eating amongst young people is important in staying fit and well in later life, so it's great that the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation has developed a project like Kick and Cook. As a professional sportsman, I'm only too happy to pass on my advice on how vital eating the right foods is in my life and my career.

"The day was thoroughly enjoyable and projects like these are designed to make cooking fun. The aim of the initiative is to encourage more and more young people to learn how easy it can be to cook healthy meals."

Cooking is making a comeback in schools and from 2011 it will be compulsory for all 11-14 year olds to be taught to make basic meals from scratch at school.

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation have been investigating creative and innovative ways of delivering this part of the curriculum by using club facilities and involving local partners.

The Foundation have teamed up with The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Haringey Sixth Form Centre to run Kick and Cook, which also incorporates a family approach by inviting parents to attend a training day focusing on Nutrition and Health and running a family shopping and budgeting workshop at a local supermarket.

At the end of the year, selected children will win a chance to experience being a chef for a day at a local restaurant. Their family will then be invited for an evening meal where they can see their child in action.

Words: Clare Riley

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