Belfast pupils put local food on the menu
What happens when children get a say in the food they eat? Belfast Flavours new pilot is giving pupils the chance to discover local produce, try new flavours, and create something inspiring.
Pupils at Cranmore Integrated Primary School are taking part in the first Belfast Flavours School Food and Sustainability Pilot, a hands-on programme connecting food education with Belfast’s wider food and hospitality community.
The project is bringing local food into the classroom and encouraging children aged seven to nine to explore where their food comes from, sample unfamiliar ingredients and share their views on what makes food appealing to young diners.
Getting hands-on
The programme got under way on 5 October with a Discovery Day at Cranmore Integrated Primary School.
Ciarán McLarnon from The Focacceria and Hundredth Monkey Bakery led pupils through a hands-on Bread Lab, introducing them to the ingredients, processes and skills involved in making sourdough bread.
The children then explored a pop-up producer supermarket, where they heard about and sampled a wide range of local produce. It was an opportunity to discover some of the food made and grown across Northern Ireland, ask questions and decide for themselves which flavours they enjoyed.
Their reactions and feedback will help Belfast Flavours and its partners understand what might encourage children to try a wider variety of local food - and how those ideas could translate into better choices for young diners.
The Sandwich Challenge
Next, the pupils will put their learning and imaginations to work in the Belfast Flavours Sandwich Challenge. Working with local ingredients, they will design and create their own innovative sandwiches before voting for their favourite fillings. The winning combinations will then be served to the whole school as part of a special School Takeover Day later in October.
It is not simply about finding one winning sandwich. The challenge is designed to give children a genuine voice, build their confidence around food and show what can happen when young diners are given the freedom to experiment with different tastes, textures and ingredients.
Gráinne Dobbin, Vice Principal at Cranmore Integrated Primary School, said:
“It is a really exciting opportunity for our pupils to learn about food in a hands-on way and discover more about the local produce available around them. The children will be able to ask questions, try new things and share their own ideas.”
Listening to young diners
For Belfast Flavours, the pilot is also a chance to start a wider conversation with the city’s chefs and hospitality businesses.
What do children really want from a menu? How can businesses introduce greater flavour, variety and local provenance while keeping dishes practical, affordable and commercially viable?
The experiences and views gathered at Cranmore will help inform discussions with the hospitality sector about children’s food, menu development and the small changes that could inspire Belfast’s next generation of foodies.
Andrew Dougan, Managing Director of Yellow Door Catering and Co-Chair of Belfast Flavours, said:
“By listening to the pupils, we can start to think differently about the food we put in front of them and how we can make local food part of their everyday lives.”
Building food curiosity
The School Food and Sustainability Pilot is supported by Belfast City Council and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs through the NI Regional Food Programme.
Úna Hollywood, Food Adviser at DAERA, said:
“Food education can help children build knowledge, confidence and curiosity around what they eat. This pilot gives pupils the chance to explore local food in a practical way, while learning more about where it comes from, healthy choices and sustainability.”
Belfast Flavours will gather feedback from pupils, the school and food and hospitality partners to understand what works and explore how the approach could support future activity in Belfast and further afield.
For now, the next move belongs to Cranmore’s young sandwich makers. We cannot wait to see what they put on the menu!
Check out some of our events from the past year…
