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Healthy Eating Week an ‘Incredible Edible’ success

May 18, 2023

Michael Geary

Dietitian Niamh Arthurs and Galway GAA star Shane Walsh took centre stage during the Incredible Edibles Heathy Eating Week as they promoted the benefits of a healthy balanced diet along with the Agri Aware team and Dole Ireland.

Healthy Eating Week ran from Monday, May 8 and concluded on Friday, May 12 and it was a huge success.

The challenge for the week was to eat seven a day for seven days – which is the recommended amount for those aged five and over from Healthy Ireland and the HSE. Schools also filled out a food diary available on the Incredible Edibles website.

By taking to the classroom, the hope was that it would encourage pupils to bring home ideas to get the family involved by bringing their healthy eating learnings home with them.

The fruit and vegetables supplied throughout the week were kindly donated by Dole Ireland, the world’s leading premier fresh produce provider.

Pupils not only got to take home a goodie bag for themselves, but the whole school also received free fresh fruit to help them on their Healthy Eating Week Challenge!

On Tuesday and Thursday of Healthy Eating Week renowned Dietitian Niamh Arthurs was on hand to deliver two excellent workshops to one lucky class in each school on the benefits of a healthy balanced diet.

On Wednesday of last week, Galway GAA star Shane Walsh joined the Agri Aware team in Co. Louth to speak to students in Scoil Mhuire na nGael in Dundalk. Shane spoke about the importance a balanced healthy diet plays in him being able to perform to the highest level on the pitch.

Students were curious to know what kind of a diet Shane has which he duly explained and throughout the day he received a warm rapturous welcome from the entire school.

The Agri Aware team and Dole Ireland took to schools in Dublin, Louth, Meath and Kildare last week, as well as hosting a healthy eating webinar for 5,000 pupils from over 200 schools.

The project has 80,000 primary pupils participating this year, showing the appetite among schools to be further involved in the long-standing programme. Dole Ireland who was with the Agri Aware team throughout the week is one of fifteen sponsors of the Incredible Edibles programme, which is widely supported by government departments and the Irish horticultural industry.

This exciting week came ahead of Bord Bia’s Bloom in the Phoenix Park on the June bank holiday.

At Bloom, up to 1,000 Incredible Edibles project pupils will attend and receive an educational tour of the farmyard – run by Agri Aware, as well as the Bord Bia/Department of Agriculture exhibit in the Food Village area.

The Agri Aware team would like to thank the four schools that welcomed us during Healthy Eating Week and all schools in the Incredible Edibles programme for their excellent work and participation in the week.

Lastly, Healthy Eating Week would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, so thanks to all for making the week the success it was.