CHILD OBESITY
An APPLE a day …
A local charity is working hard to help change the eating habits of children across the borough , reports Jack Butler .
APPLE , based in a converted building in Acton Park , runs a variety of creative or practical activities for out-of-school hours – such as art , cooking , gardening and sport – and is supported by Ealing Council ’ s Youth & Connexions team .
The charity ’ s cooking classes focus on improving young people ’ s diets and started 10 years ago . The staff and youngsters cook together to demonstrate how to make fresh , home‐cooked meals that they eat together . The goal is to show the benefits of enjoying healthy food and educate the children of the problems arising from a diet packed with fast foods that are high in sugar and fat ,
such as rotten teeth , diabetes and heart disease .
Children also now get to see how their meal is produced by helping to plant their own vegetables and fruit in a new garden the charity recently raised money to install through crowdfunding . The council also donated £ 1,000-worth of top soil and bark .
TACKLING POOR DIETS Vicki Barker , the charity ’ s CEO , said : “ It is a long haul to change the eating habits of the country , like turning an oil tanker . But APPLE thinks one of the ways to start is teaching young people to cook and enjoy homecooked food with fresh ingredients .”
LESSONS YOU LEARN FOR LIFE Jessica Mason , first attended APPLE when she was six years old and now ,
16 around ealing September 2018