In March, more than 10,000 primary school pupils joined the national Eat Them To Defeat Them initiative, an award-winning Veg Power campaign aimed at boosting children’s vegetable intake in a fun and engaging way. Spanning 36 schools from Southend-on-Sea to Huddersfield, the campaign gave Angel Hill Food Co. an opportunity to promote healthy eating habits among young learners and inspire a lasting love for vegetables.
Why Vegetables Are Vital for Growing Children
Vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre that support children’s growth, strengthen immune systems, and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses later in life. Yet 80% of UK primary school children are not eating enough vegetables.
As a leading education catering provider, Angel Hill Food Co. is committed to changing this by making vegetables appealing, accessible, and part of everyday meals.
Partnering with Veg Power for Positive Change
To support the seventh year of the Eat Them To Defeat Them campaign, Angel Hill Food Co. partnered with Veg Power, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving children’s diets.
We provided participating schools with campaign packs, including posters, stickers, activity sheets, and take-home materials, as well as hosting online training sessions to help school teams get involved. Our catering teams brought the campaign to life through tasting workshops, vibrant displays, and even dressing up as vegetables to capture pupils’ imaginations.
The official focus week began on 10 March, but many schools continued activities beyond that date. At one school in Shrewsbury, Veg Power representatives hosted a special assembly and filmed the event for national promotion. Sweetcorn topped the popularity list among pupils, closely followed by carrots.
Celebrating Creativity and Impact
Several of our schools also entered the Veg Power Caterers Challenge, which recognises the most innovative campaign efforts with prizes of up to £500. After last year’s success, when Redhill Primary earned a Silver Award, we are hopeful for more recognition this year.
Feedback from our teams highlighted the positive reception:
The children truly embraced the challenge, and we’re excited to keep the momentum going.
– Karen Hodson, Operations Manager
Many children tried vegetables for the first time, and we’re looking forward to more initiatives like this.
– Kate Venables, Chef Manager
Continuing the Momentum for a Healthier Future
Although the campaign has ended, Angel Hill Food Co. remains dedicated to encouraging children to eat more vegetables. Through initiatives like Junior Chef’s Club and Lunchathon, we aim to inspire lifelong healthy eating habits and provide fun, educational food experiences.
By working alongside Veg Power, we are helping to shape a healthier future, one vegetable at a time.
Get in touch with our team to learn more about our education catering services and how we can support your school.
