Tesco expands Stronger Starts Cooks programme in Mayo
TESCO Ireland is continuing the roll-out of Stronger Starts Cooks, a free six-week programme supporting children’s health, wellbeing, and practical life skills.
The Stronger Starts Cooks programme is now rolling out in Westport, providing hands-on cooking workshop and learning resources for local pupils.
Both Drummin and Carrakennedy National Schools are currently taking part in the Tesco Stronger Starts Cooks programme, which will see 21 pupils involved across both schools.
Delivered mainly to fifth class pupils (with flexibility for 4th and 6th), the six-week experience includes a hands-on cooking workshop and lessons in food science, food safety and healthy eating. Among the highlights is a visit to a local Tesco store, where students explore the journey of food from farm to shelf, take part in a budgeting challenge, enjoy food sampling sessions, and get to see behind the scenes of a busy shop environment.
Children in 20 primary schools nationwide successfully completed the programme in May and June, and, in its first year, almost 3,000 primary school pupils across 42 schools will have participated in the programme, giving them hands-on experience with cooking, nutrition, and food education.
Research from the first group of schools shows that almost all parents (94%) believe cooking should be included in the primary school curriculum, while 79% of schools had no prior classroom cooking experience, highlighting a clear gap in practical food education. In addition, 93% of teachers agree that cooking supports curriculum delivery and helps children build vital life skills.
Tesco Stronger Starts Cooks is a curriculum-aligned educational programme that aims to inspire a lifelong love of food and cooking, educate on nutrition, and show the value of home-made meals among primary school children.
Professionally developed in consultation with teachers and the support of a qualified dietician, the programme supports classroom learning while helping children build real-life skills in a fun and memorable way.
Delivered by educational specialists Real Nation, the pilot programme has already received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with the majority (95%) of pupils saying they enjoyed the experience.
Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Small Business and Retail and Circular Economy, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts Cooks initiative is a fantastic example of how practical, hands-on experiences can support children’s health and wellbeing. I’m delighted to see it delivered here in Mayo, with the children of Drummin NS and Carrakennedy NS, taking part in the programme. By learning about nutrition, where food comes from, how to shop on a budget and develop basic cooking skills, they’re building lifelong habits that will benefit them well into the future.”
Find out more about the Tesco Stronger Starts Cooks programme here.