Promoting local food and food sustainability is vital in today’s world, and the Created In Cavan School Food Programme aims to achieve just that.
The programme’s objectives are to deliver a National Schools Programme that promotes local food, food producers, food sustainability, and increase awareness of food miles and food origins. The programme aims to create engaging activities that encourage the promotion of local food and provide video links to local food producers in the area.
The lesson topics in the programme are designed to achieve the objectives set out by the Cavan Food Network, it’s members and Created In Cavan.
The first topic, Investigating Where Food Comes From, aims to help students identify and describe the origins of a variety of foods. Through this lesson, students will gain a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it reaches their plates.
The second topic, Exploring Food Systems, encourages students to map the journey of one food item and explore food systems. By doing so, they will have a better understanding of how food is produced and how it gets to their plates. This topic also increases awareness of food miles, the distance food has travelled to their plates, and the environmental impact of food origins.
The third topic, Discovering Sustainable Food Practices, helps students start considering how activities within our food system impact the planet. This lesson focuses on sustainable food practices and encourages students to discover ways in which they can make a difference.
Finally, the fourth topic, Creating a One Planet Plate, encourages students to consider how they can make their meals more sustainable. They will learn how to create a balanced, nutritious meal while keeping sustainability in mind.
The Created In Cavan School Food Programme aims to achieve six learning outcomes.
The first outcome is that students will identify and describe the origins of a variety of foods.
The second outcome is that they will explore food systems and map the journey of one food item.
The third outcome is that they will have a better understanding of how food is produced and how it gets to their plate.
The fourth outcome is that they will start to consider how activities within our food system impact the planet.
The fifth outcome is that they will discover sustainable food practices.
Finally, the sixth outcome is that they will have a better knowledge of what food producers are available locally.
The Created In Cavan School Food Programme is an excellent initiative that aims to promote local food and food sustainability. By providing engaging activities and video links to local food producers, the programme encourages students to consider where their food comes from and how they can make a difference.
The programme’s learning outcomes are well thought out and will help students gain a better understanding of the food system and the impact it has on the planet.
For more information on the ‘Created in Cavan’ brand, including the exciting 2023 Calendar of Events, just visit www.createdincavan.ie. To enquire about membership of the Cavan Food Network, contact mmcdonald@cavancoco.ie.
