It’s time to enjoy the fruits of their labours

Apr 17 2008 Glamorgan Gazette

SMOOTHIE-MAKING youngsters are saying yes to fruit and no to soft drinks.

Year Six children were given a lesson in smoothie making by staff at the Bethlehem Church and Life Centre, Cefn Cribwr.

As part of a new initiative to encourage healthy eating, youngsters chose from a variety of exotic ingredients in concocting their own fruit drink.

Corneli and Cefn Cribwr Primaries took part in the inaugural six-week scheme, with pupils from Mynydd Cynffig Juniors.

Organiser Rob McAvoy, the centre’s sports coordinator and youth manager, was grateful to have been given opportunity to make a difference.

“We were given the option of carrying on work in the locality after we obtained funding through the Bridge Mentoring Plus Scheme,” he said.

“We wanted to introduce smoothies as a way of making up your five-a-day.

“During the transition from Year Six to Year Seven, children get into the habit of so many of those in secondary schools, and pick up a cola or something that is not good for you.

“The initiative aims to prompt children into taking the healthier option. They can buy a smoothie or make their own – and it tastes so much better.”

Adding extra incentive, a friendly inter-school competition was arranged in a hunt for the best juice makers.

Teams of two or three had to beat their fellow smoothie-making classmates before representing their school.

Cefn Cribwr Primary School were crowned winners, and received a smoothie making machine for their creation, Pink Ladies Pure Passion – a blend of pineapple, mango, orange, banana, strawberry, apricot, yoghurt and honey.

Neil Davies, head teacher of Mynydd Cynffig Junior School, said: “One of the focuses is on food and fitness so it fits in nicely with what happens in our school.”

Each participant received a copy of the healthy-eating smoothie book, containing the typed recipes of all competition entrants.