Kick start the new school year with BNF Healthy Eating Week

With more businesses and shops now open again, and schools reopening to all students in September, this is a great time to celebrate the importance of health and wellbeing with BNF Healthy Eating Week. This year, the Week will last seven days and run from 28 September to 4 October 2020. The aim of the Week is to bring the UK together, focusing on key health messages and promoting healthy habits.

Given the uncertainty posed by coronavirus, it is understandable that some organisations will not be able to run the Week in September/October. However, the resources, activities, ideas, and posters will all stay on the BNF and Food – a fact of life websites, so nurseries, schools, universities and workplaces can run their BNF Healthy Eating Week when it suits them. Make sure you’re registered so you have everyone ready whenever you decide to take on the challenges!

What are the ‘challenges’?

Each year, the Week is characterised by a set of daily health challenges to complete throughout the Week. For the first time, in 2020, BNF is running seven challenges, meaning two will be available over the weekend.

There are six new challenges for 2020, including, for the first time, a challenge based on promoting good mental health, recognising its importance in overall health and wellbeing.

This year’s health challenges are: 

• Eat more wholegrains (Monday);  
• Vary your veg (Tuesday);  
• Drink plenty (Wednesday);  
• Move more (Thursday);  
• Be mind kind (Friday);  
• Get active together* (Saturday);  
• Eat together* (Sunday).   

*The Be active together and Eat together challenges are intended to highlight the importance of undertaking activities together. Social distancing rules will need to be applied depending on personal and local circumstances.

What have organisations done in the past?

This year is the 8^th BNF Healthy Eating Week and, over the years nurseries, schools, universities and workplaces have undertaken many different activities in their quests to complete the challenges!

Schools have:

• followed along with the daily online cooking sessions, which will run again this year;
• got active by inviting guests to run activity sessions (this could be remotely this year);
• promoted 5 A DAY by setting up class fruit/veg bowls, holding tasting sessions and working with catering staff to ensure plenty of fruit and vegetable options are available at lunchtimes.

We have also seen some fantastic ideas shared with us on Twitter, including a ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ style competition, a whole school activity session and smoothie bikes set up to help pupils get active and have 5 A DAY!

Workplaces have:

• started the day with a staff breakfast, proving wholegrain options;
• set up ‘hydration stations’ with chilled water and infusion flavourings, such as mint leaves and cucumber;
• taken team walks at lunchtimes to help everyone move more;
• invited instructors to run yoga and Pilates sessions (this could be remotely this year);
• circulated daily challenge emails and posted videos for staff to watch, as part of health and wellbeing programmes

For each of the 2020 daily challenges, ideas sheets are available to provide ideas for how to meet each challenge, with the current social distancing guidelines in place. You can find these at the bottom of the page!

What can you do?

Now is a good time to start some planning. You can:

• put the date in your organisation’s diary;
• decide who is going to coordinate your BNF Healthy Eating Week;
• follow us on Twitter @Foodafactoflife and @BNFEvents– to get some hints, tips and updates;
• get support from management, and ask colleagues and catering staff to get involved.

But most importantly, don’t forget to register for the Week! This is a fantastic opportunity to promote and celebrate healthy lifestyles, so register now and get involved!

Acknowledgement

BNF Healthy Eating Week 2020 is developed by the British Nutrition Foundation and supported by the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Quorn Foods, Asda, Nestlé Cereals, Old El Paso, innocent drinks and Waitrose & Partners.

BNF is grateful for the advice from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust on the Be mind kind challenge.