The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is calling on chefs working in or near the National Park to come forward to help with an initiative that encourages children to learn more about the food they eat.
As part of the Cairngorms Food for Life project, the CNPA has teamed up with the Academy of Culinary Arts to deliver their highly successful Chefs Adopt a School programme. It teaches children respect for food, nutrition, health and hygiene. It also highlights how growing and farming links to plate and palate.
Academy member and Cairngorm Mountain chief executive Ian Whitaker said: “For the project to be successful in the Cairngorms National Park, we need chefs to take part in the training and to share their passion and enthusiasm for food and local produce with local school children so their knowledge and understanding of food is developed at an early age.”
Knowing more about where food comes from and how raw materials are transformed into food is considered a good basis for learning life skills, encouraging children to experiment themselves with food, and ultimately to lead happier and healthier lives.
Economic development officer at the CNPA, Ruathy Donald said: “The Chefs Adopt a School programme will allow school children taking part to experience the vast array of quality produce available in the Cairngorms National Park and how these ingredients can be combined to come up with some delicious meals.”
Chefs working in or near the Cairngorms National Park are invited to training events being held in November where they will be shown how to pass their knowledge and expertise on to local school children. Chefs taking part will then undertake sessions with children in local schools at a later date that are practical and very hands-on, making for fun and informative learning.