Sowing a Bean Revolution in Schools

The Nutrition Advisory Team is keen to inspire a bean revolution in schools and communities, sowing seeds for a healthier, more sustainable future.

Founded by Claire King, an educator and behavioural nutritionist, The Nutrition Advisory team is committed to ensuring that all children leave primary school equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health. The Nutrition Advisory Team is based in the UK, with offices in Nottingham and Bournemouth.

One key initiative being developed is Nutri-kit, a toolkit designed to promote health literacy among primary school students. Through Nutri-kit, children can explore the interconnectedness of food, physical activity, emotions, and social connections, empowering them to make healthier choices for themselves and the planet. Nutri-kit integrates elements of food science, life science and environmental science providing both students and educators with a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing health and well-being.

By focusing on the fundamental principles of “eat, move, feel, and connect,” Nutri-kit equips children with tools they need to lead healthier lives and contribute positively to their communities.

The Nutrition Advisory Team (NAT) aligns with the principles of Beans is How, which emphasises sustainability and health through plant-based eating and healthy habits, in several ways:

EAT

By educating children about the importance of balanced nutrition and encouraging the consumption of plant-based foods, NAT contributes to improved health outcomes among young people. The NAT’s recipe development team are also keen to work alongside school teams and caterers in support of the goal to double the consumption of beans by 2028.

MOVE

Using beans as a stimulus part of the movement is made fun with activities such as “full of beans”, “spill the beans”, “jumping beans”, and the “bean and spoon race”.

FEEL

Both NAT and Beans is How recognise the importance of education to drive behavioural change. The Nutrition Advisory Team promotes adding beans to the menu in school and at home. Nutri-Kit includes child-led recipes that empower children to take an active role in meal preparation, encouraging family participation and engagement. Nutritious sustainable diets are crucial in supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.

CONNECT

Beans is How emphasises the importance of community support in promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles. NAT’s work with schools and educators fosters a sense of community around health and nutrition, empowering children to make positive changes both individually and collectively. Food can be grown, harvested and shared in school and there are suggested school-based activities that can engage the school family and local community. The services offered by The Nutrition Advisory Team can support schools in providing and embedding a whole school approach to healthy living. Doubling bean consumption could help improve access to nutritious food for childrens and families, particularly in regions where food insecurity is prevalent.

Drawing from her 23 years in education and a passion to foster transformative change that nurtures both mental and physical well-being, Claire, underscores the critical link between academic performance, behaviour, and dietary habits. Collaboration with schools and food practitioners has led to the development of additional resources aimed at supporting a collective culture.

Adriana Manova, a key collaborator in this effort, emphasises, “We firmly believe that embedding effective food education throughout the entire school system is integral to addressing diet-related issues such as malnutrition, Type 2 Diabetes, and obesity.”

Finally, the NAT is committed to working with the entire school food sector to increase the accessibility and visibility of beans through playful school campaigns, where bean characters become influencers. This is in coordination with the Beans is How global campaign to raise awareness of the value of beans to both people and planet.