Food 4 Thought
An ever-popular energetic and much loved performance about the benefits of
healthy eating and exercise, teaching young audiences that a good diet and
active lifestyle can let them enjoy their lives today and tomorrow…
We really enjoyed Food 4 Thought because it was really funny and the songs were catchy!
We still sing the songs in class! Thank you for coming because now I know
what healthy foods are the healthiest and what belongs in each category!
I’ve started to change my life around by having a balanced diet!”
Pupil, Roding Primary School, London Borough of Redbridge
Food 4 Thought is an explosive and energetic 35 minutes of theatre that promotes the benefits of a balanced diet, and stresses the importance of exercise and having a sensible approach to enjoying what you eat. This hugely successful project has been performed to thousands of children nationally and helps 5-11 year olds understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and how to make positive healthy changes in their own lives.
This interactive show provides the essential ingredients for creating a healthy lifestyle and reveals why this is so important. The project makes learning about healthy living fun, appetising and exciting, ensuring that the messages are understood, remembered and embraced by our young audiences.
This project was created in partnership with Havering Catering Services.
The performance is as relevant today as it was in 2000 when Havering Catering Services
first commissioned this performance. I highly recommend it to any primary school
that is dealing with Food and Diet as part of the curriculum.”
Gerry Clinton, Catering & Schools Traded Services Manager,
London Borough of Havering
THE NEED
The number of obese children has trebled in the past 20 years, with ten per cent of 10 year olds now officially obese. Childhood diabetes is rising dramatically. Fatty and sugary foods are now more readily available than ever before. Average portion sizes and calories per mouthful have increased, and with leisure time increasingly being spent watching TV, playing computer games or surfing the internet, children are far less active.
These are just some of the factors indicating that we must give urgent attention to children’s eating habits if their general health is to improve.
It’s common knowledge that many children attend school without having eaten breakfast and are instead snacking on high fat and high sugar foods at breaks throughout the day instead of eating ‘proper’ meals – this pattern is not only unhealthy but can also lead to irritability and a lack of concentration that has a negative impact on pupils’ performance in school.
Chain Reaction’s healthy eating work teaches children that a good breakfast is an essential start to the school day and that eating healthy balanced meals throughout the day will help them achieve more, both in and out of school. It is easier for a child to learn when they are well-nourished and it is with this in mind that Chain Reaction created Food 4 Thought.
THE SHOW
Jean (the canteen lady) is determined to change the eating habits of our three unhealthy young students. ‘Ali Dingrunner’ is a sports fanatic but never seems to have the energy to fulfill her potential; ‘Jasmine Fluenza’ finds her sneezing is a constant irritation to herself and her friends; and Geoff Vorderman (the loveable nephew of Carol) has his head so far up in the clouds that he doesn’t consider such trivial matters as food… and his schoolwork is suffering. Transformed into her alter-ego, the “Genie from the Magic Ketchup Bottle”, Jean takes them all on an entrancing journey which both educates and entertains…
With sing-a-long pop songs, drama, comedy, dance, and loads of well-known TV characters and shows (including The Teletubbies, and sketches based on Supermarket Sweep, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and EastEnders), the children are educated on all the food types using key words. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats are introduced, and the main characters and the audience come to discover which foods each can be found in.
The final sing-along song ‘Eating Is So Much Fun’ gets the audience involved in a true Chain Reaction-style celebration of the enormous contribution that food can make to our lives!
during lunchtime our younger children were actually referring to what had happened.
Our year 3 children proudly told me they had eaten healthily and had lots of energy.”
Mrs Richardson, Head Teacher, Saltburn Primary School,
Saltburn-by-Sea, North Yorkshire
FOOD 4 THOUGHT TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE…
- that eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly are two of the most important things you need to do to be healthy
- the need for regular, balanced meals and the importance of breakfast
- about the impact of a poor diet and a lack of exercise on personal health
- the different types of food groups/nutrients (e.g. protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, dairy, fruit & vegetables)
- in which foods the various nutrients can be found, and the positive effects of these food groups
- that treats are okay once in a while as part of a healthy balanced diet
- that children can make healthy informed decisions for themselves
Pupil, age 9, Beacon Hill Special School, Thurrock, Essex
AT A GLANCE…
| Show length: | 35 mins |
| Included extras: | 1 hour workshop |
| For ages: | 5 – 11 |
| School year groups: | 1 – 6 |
| Level: | Infant/Junior |
| Curriculum links and current themes: |
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It had a high impact on children’s views, particularly witnessed at lunchtime,
when they talked about the show as they selected what they were having for lunch.”
Sharon Anderson, Deputy Head Teacher
The Hayes Primary School, London Borough of Croydon
See the “What’s On” box (left) to find out if this project is touring soon.
To receive a past evaluation report or to find out more get in touch.
