The progress of a £900,000 scheme designed to change food culture in dozens of Hertfordshire schools has been highlighted to county councillors.

Eleven primary schools have already been recruited to be a part of Nourish Hertfordshire, which is being delivered in partnership with School Food Matters.

And over four school terms, students, staff and parents from those schools will take part in the programme, which will focus on "improving the school food environment".

Over the three-year period, there are plans to work with more than 40 schools across the county.

And on Monday (September 14) the project was highlighted to a meeting of the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel.

Joanna Aves, health improvement lead for children and young people, told councillors that children sat down to eat 2,660 times during their time in school.

And that she said was "2660 opportunities to eat, explore and engage with great food".

She pointed to the aims of the Nourish Hertfordshire programme, which include a framework to improve school food provision, an improved understanding of food standards and food preparation skills for staff and increased take-up of school meals.

At the meeting, councillors heard that eating behaviours can have a significant impact on a child's health, wellbeing and educational outcomes.

It was reported that the proposal for Nourish Hertfordshire had highlighted the 30% of children, in 2023/24, who – in their final year of primary school – had been classed as overweight or obese.

It was reported that it had noted that only 13% of pupils in the county were eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

"Schools are an important setting for prevention and establishing healthy behaviours because children consume a significant proportion of their daily food within the school setting," says the report presented to councillors.

"The School Food Matters programme is based on a whole school approach to food, recognising that sustainable change requires action across food provision, curriculum, dining environment, school policy, staff role modelling, pupil voice and engagement with families."

In addition to the work with staff, parents and children, Nourish Hertfordshire will also include chef educator training and a schools transformation programme.

Chefs in Schools will support school chefs and catering teams to improve food quality, establish a school food culture, menu appeal and compliance with school food standards.

And at one school in the county they will aim to create a beacon of excellence, supporting a single school to "create an exemplary in-house food service".

During the meeting Cllr Beth Kelly said she was "really shocked" that only 13% of young people in Hertfordshire had five portions of fruit and vegetables per day.

"In Hertfordshire, that's a really low percentage – I was quite surprised by that," she said.

And following the meeting, executive member for public health and community safety Cllr Ajanta Hilton (Liberal Democrat, St Stephen's) said she hoped the scheme would have a long-lasting impact on the lives of the children involved.

"I am really pleased we are going into some of the schools that really need the help with healthy eating habits – working with parents and teachers on the School Food Matters programme, to really encourage that lifestyle change for better eating," she said.

"I am hoping that children will understand the changes and use that for a long-lasting healthier life."

Adding: "This is immensely important because we all know obesity rates are increasing in children – and once you are obese it's extremely tough to lose that weight and lose it for life."