East End Health - Smoothie Project

Smoothie Bar Project
The Smoothie Bar project is currently running in 16 primary schools, a nursery and a playgroup across the Newcastle and North Tyneside area, with numerous requests from other schools to join this popular project. Orders are placed with our Food and Nutrition staff, on a weekly basis, who then make the required amount of smoothie for the following morning, using only fresh fruit. The smoothies are a valuable source of vitamins, fibre and introduce the children to an alternative way of enjoying fruit. Our Food and Nutrition staff then visits the school and the children receive the chilled drinks in specially designed beakers. The smoothies are provided at a cost of 40p per week for primary school children and 20p per week for nursery school children. As a result of the project, 1400 children, on average per week, are now enjoying a healthy smoothie drink.

As a result of the project, East End Health hopes to be able to:

Establish eating habits which include the consumption of fresh, healthy produce.
To increase the consumption of fruit by children in the East End of Newcastle.
To educate children about the links between food, physical activity and health.

Please see the links below for recent media coverage on smoothies:

Smoothies set to be Healhty Option - Sky News

St. Anthony's Primary School was one of the first schools to become part of the Smoothie Bar Project. The project has remained popular with both staff and children at the school across the years.

How the Project Runs at St Anthony's Primary:

Orders are placed with our Smoothie Bar team once per half term - usually in the last week of the previous half term.

Each week during the term our Smoothie Bar Team will visit the school and the children who ordered a smoothie are able to visit the Smoothie Bar to collect their smoothie.

The Smoothie Bar currently runs each Wednesday morning at St Anthony's and delivers approximately 50 smoothies per week.

Julie Kadleck (Head Teacher at St Anthony's) gave this comment:

"The school is pushing very hard to help families adopt healthy lifestyles; the Smoothie Bar Project helps us to do this. It is something the families are part of voluntarily (rather than the school doing everything for them) so uptake is indicative of some good healthy choices amongst our parents."

Liam Thornton, Class 6 gave this comment about the Smoothies:

"They are really nice and tehy help me to stay healthy. My favourite flavour is Orange and Pineapple."

Jordan Blackford, Class 5, gave this comment:

"I like smoothies because they are good for my bones!"

The Walker Library Playgroup joined the Smoothie Bar Project in January 2008. We hope to be able to introduce the children at the playgroup to having smoothies and fresh fruit as a regular part of their school routine by helping them to start accessing smoothies from a very young age.

How the Project Runs at Walker Library Playgroup:

The Playgroup receive their smoothie in containers each week, allowing the staff to distribute the smoothie amongst the children at a time suitable to them.

The Playgroup currently receive their smoothie each week on a Wednesday and usually order between 4 and 8 litres per week depending on the current intake number of children.

Margaret, one of the Leaders of the Playgroup said that:

"The Smoothies are very popular with both the children and staff. Parents ask about the flavours we have each week and which flavours their children seem to prefer."

Patrice, a parent of one of the children at the playgroup said:

"Sydney will drink smoothies at nursery but not at home!"

Lauren, one of the Playgroup Assistants, said:

"The children and staff overall enjoy the smoothie and are now not afraid to try new flavours."

Cragside Primary School joined the Smoothie Bar Project in June 2008. The school seem to have made the Smoothie Bar Project an important and exciting part of the school routine which the children seem to look forwards to each week.

How the Project Runs at Cragside Primary:

Orders are placed with our Smoothie Bar team once per half term - usually in the last week of the previous half term.

Each week during the term our Smoothie Bar Team will visit the school and the children who ordered a smoothie are able to visit the Smoothie Bar to collect their smoothie.

The Smoothie Bar currently runs each Tuesday during the morning breaktime and delivers approximately 110 smoothies per week.

Michael Howard (Head Teacher at Cragside) gave this comment:

"Smoothies have gone down really well at Cragside!"

Rebecca, Class 6 gave this comment about the Smoothies:

"The smoothies are really delicious - nothing could make them better!"

Katie, Class 4, gave this comment:

"Smoothies are nice, tasty and healthy."