Feeding the Future
An explosion of comedy, drama and song, that teaches older pupils about
nutrition, the value of eating healthily, and how looking after
yourself can help you look after your future
than ever before…I thought it was informative and presented to the students in a way that they
could understand it. The humour added to gaining their attention.”
Belinda Eathone, Assistant Head of Year 8, Eastbury Comprehensive School,
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Feeding the Future was created following the massive success of Food 4 Thought, our healthy eating show for primary school audiences. We realised that there was an urgent need for a project with a similar message for older pupils, so we created a new 35 minute show using our captivating formula of pop culture and comedy to make healthy eating engaging and appealing for 11-14 year olds.
The result was Feeding the Future – a super-size serving of comedy theatre with all the right ingredients to help young people live a healthy happy lifestyle. Jam-packed with information, advice and practical tactics to help them make informed choices, the show whets young people’s appetite for a healthy life, by making them more knowledgeable and more confident in taking control of their own diets.
Feeding the Future was originally funded by the Barking and Havering 5-A-Day initiative.
They thought it was brilliant. They found it fascinating from a drama point of view
and clearly absorbed the healthy eating message.”
Carole Jordan, Deputy Headteacher, Ilford County High School,
London Borough of Redbridge
THE NEED
Cancer and heart disease claim 225,000 lives each year in this country, making up a third of all early deaths. Britain has the highest rate of heart disease in Europe. The second most contributory factor (after smoking tobacco) has been identified as bad diet and, in particular, a lack of fruit and vegetables.
To tackle this problem, the Government launched the 5-A-Day initiative to encourage all of us to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. However, recent World Health Organisation statistics suggest that we are falling well below this target, with one in five young people still eating no fruit or vegetables at all. In addition to this, fatty and sugary foods are now more readily available, average portion sizes and calories per mouthful have increased and young people are less active than ever before. These and further factors have meant that our children’s bodies are not being nourished and their physical health is declining.
Good nutrition is essential during adolescence, when children’s minds and bodies need the right fuel to sustain growth. However, many young people still eat far too much fast food during these formative years and leave the essential food groups untouched. A staggering 25% of 11-16 year olds are now considered to be obese, a figure which has increased dramatically over the past ten years and continues to rise.
However, young people care about their appearance; once they understand that there is a connection between looking good, and eating right, they are more likely to change bad habits and adopt a healthier diet.
With these issues in mind, Chain Reaction devised Feeding the Future, a dynamic piece of comical theatre that clearly sets out the case for eating a healthy and balanced diet.
THE SHOW
Charlie’s Angels have a new mission; changing young people’s eating habits. Thousands of lives are at stake and with this responsibility in mind the Angels set about their task with gusto. With high-kicking antics and kung-fu stances, they take on both the supermarket and the school canteen. They finally discover that all the foods we need are readily available and that it is up to us to make our own informed decisions to ensure a long and healthy future.
We explore the issues of diet and exercise, learn how to read the often confusing labels on packaging, find out how different cooking methods can help us cut down on salt and fat, and perhaps most important of all, underline the fact that food is ultimately to be enjoyed.
As the audience are swept along with this fast-paced performance, we meet David Beckham, the Simpsons, Simon Bowel and his X Factor contestants and almost the entire cast of EastEnders!
Feeding the Future is an explosion of comedy, drama and song containing the message that feeding our minds and bodies with the right nutritional information can ultimately save lives.
Vikki Barrie, Teacher, Plumstead Manor School, London Borough of Greenwich
FEEDING THE FUTURE TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE…
- how to achieve five a day – what counts and what doesn’t
- the health benefits of eating more fruit and vegetables
- about the different food groups (e.g. protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins & minerals)
- to make healthier choices at lunchtime
- how to read food labels
- that tinned, frozen and fresh fruit and vegetables are all good for you
- how to put together a balanced meal that’s both tasty and nutritious
- the importance a healthy heart and how to achieve this
- that they have the power to take charge of their own eating habits
Pupil, Marshalls Park Secondary School, Romford, Essex
AT A GLANCE…
| Show length: | 35 mins |
| Included extras: | 1 hour workshop |
| For ages: | 11 – 14 |
| School year groups: | 7 – 9 |
| Level: | Secondary |
| Curriculum links and current themes: |
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and what they are needed for…It was fun, bright and appropriately pitched
for year 7 students…Excellent! Keep it up.”
Sarah Heath, Head of PSHEE, Plashet School, London Borough of Newham
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.
