Fruit and vegetables campaign extended from school to homes

The St Julian’s primary school yesterday gave a colourful and noisy welcome to Rural Minister George Pullicino who distributed vegetable portions in recyclable containers.

Three- and four-year-olds swayed and bounced as they sang along to a catchy song about fruit and vegetables while waving colourful pictures.

The younger students brimmed with excitement while a couple just mouthed the lyrics and shuffled their feet.

About 31,000 containers are distributed every week among the 135 primary schools spread across Malta.

This EU co-financed campaign, which kicked off in 2009, is being extended to the students’ homes.

Together with their weekly portion, children were yesterday given leaflets encouraging their guardians to sustain the initiative at home.

From this year, other activities, including farm visits, puppet shows, nutritional talks and food lab activities, will supplement the campaign.

Informative colouring books were yesterday also given to the students, some of whom looked in disgust at the vegetable container sitting in front of them.

But Mr Pullicino had good news for those who grimaced at the mention of vegetables. Students will be given fruit portions three times a month, rather than just twice, and vegetables will be distributed only once a month.

He said the lack of fruit and vegetables inthe children’s lunch boxes boiled down to the students’ background.

“We have a real problem when it comes to vegetable consumption. Half of this school’s students hail from foreign families and it is clear that those coming from Maltese families offer more resistance to fruit and vegetables,” MrPullicino said.