From kimchi to chorizo: How pupils at one south Belfast primary school are embracing adventurous, locally sourced food

Getting kids to ditch chips and try an alternative that’s healthy and tasty might sound like an impossible task, but pupils at a south Belfast school are putting their tastebuds to the test.

A pilot programme to promote a healthier and locally sourced diet for children has been launched at Cranmore Integrated Primary School, with children introduced to new foods through speaking to chefs and taking part in sandwich-making workshops.

The scheme is being delivered by the recently formed Belfast Flavours, which is working in tandem with the council to help rethink children’s menus in the school lunch hall and restaurants.

Cranmore vice-principal Grainne Dobbin welcomed the programme.

“What we’re finding more and more is that a lot of children’s diets are quite limited. They don’t want to try new foods,” she said.

“When it’s done in school with their friends alongside them, they want to be involved so they will try things they wouldn’t maybe try at home.”

At the launch, pupils designed sandwiches made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients before the school voted for the best.

The winner was a ham, spicy chorizo, grated cheese, red peppers and tomato sauce sandwich with sourdough bread.

Ms Dobbin said: “The children were given control and the opportunity to choose their own sandwich fillings and design their own sandwich fillings from the foods they had previously tried.

“Some of them were foods they’d never tasted before, so having that opportunity to try it and being confident enough to have a go was a really good part of the project.”

Eight-year-old Deoiridh Kane was among the pupils who took part.

She said: “We had so much fun making sandwiches and producing all the stuff. We tried lots of foods, and I tried kimchi for the first time.

“In my sandwich, there were cucumbers, pretzels, tomato sauce and flavoured chicken.”

Caroline Wilson from the Belfast Flavours committee said the programme was designed to be enjoyable for children.

She added: “We do notice in Belfast there’s quite a lot of people getting goujons and chips on the menu.

“What we’re trying to do is get a bit of data and a bit more information from the kids to see what they might really enjoy on their plate.

“What maybe parents and families and friends don’t realise is that they want to give it a go, particularly the local produce.

“(We want to) just see if they’ll give it a try, and maybe we can swerve those typical plates of kids’ menus and just get something new on their plates.”

Belfast city councillor Joe Duffy said: “We’ve placed wellbeing at the heart of the Belfast Agenda, our community plan for the city, and nutrition is a key part of that, so we’re pleased to support this pilot, which is giving young people the chance to meet some of the people behind our fantastic local produce.

“By bringing schools, producers and hospitality businesses together, we can learn more about what children enjoy eating, and their ideas could help shape future children’s menus in the city.”