Schools and youth organisations in north Suffolk are being encouraged to join in with an initiative to help children get closer to the food they eat.

The Farm to Fork Trail is being run at Beccles supermarket Tesco by its Community Champion Natalie Clement, who also holds a level two qualification in early years education.

Children of school age are invited into the store to see how their food is produced and to try it in an interactive and fun way.

Miss Clement, who has worked at Tesco since it opened 10 years ago, said she is keen to draw in as many youngsters as possible to take part.

She said: “The Farm to Fork Trail Guide is part of the Eat Happy campaign to get children to have a better relationship with their food. It’s aimed at five to 11-year-olds, but if younger children want to get involved we are able to take the worksheets and produce them for the classroom.”

Children who take part are invited to visit the in-store bakery to see how the bread is made, sample the different cheeses available and watch as a fishmonger dissects a fish.

Miss Clement said: “We normally have 30 children come to the bakery and I normally spilt them into two groups so we have 15 at each counter. We swap around so at the bakery counter they have the chance to make a bread roll, see how they are packed and taste different breads. At Ellingham Pre School we made gingerbread men and tasted fruits and vegetables all the colours of the rainbow. There’s also a chance for scouts, cubs and brownies to get one of their badges if they book in.

“It’s very interactive, which is the best way to learn, it’s something they are going to remember rather than just sitting in the classroom witnessing it.”

The Eat Happy Project is aimed at introducing new opportunities for children to heighten their interest in healthy living and food by making it engaging and hands-on. Other parts of the project include cooking courses and online field trips taking farms and factories into the classroom with lessons from food suppliers throughout the world.

To book a trail email beccles@eathappyproject.com or call 07933670252.

Do you have a story for our forthcoming school zone page? Email amy.smith@archant.co.uk