FREE - £20 of Organix goodies when you join the Soil Association before 31 July!

The Soil Association is the membership organisation at the heart of climate friendly organic food. Their Food for Life campaign is just one of many that is starting to transform the predominant junk food culture in this country. Now you can join as a family member and get all the information you need for you and your family to lead a more organic lifestyle.

In addition to £20 worth of Organix goodies (note, offer applies for people that join via the web before 31 July only) you will also receive the Organic baby and toddler cookbook (worth £6.95); Mole's Dream, an introductory dvd for young children; Field Days, a beautifully illustrated guide to the organic farm network featuring days out that the whole family can enjoy; a membership card entiltling the bearer to special deals at 200 outlets up and down the country; and Living Earth magazine, 3 times a year.

To join, go to: www.whyorganic.org

Visit the Soil Association

The Soil Association's Food for Life programme includes:

• Practical work to get fresh, seasonal, unprocessed, local and organic ingredients into school meals and
• National policy work to put pressure on the government to provide a supportive framework for school meal providers. This includes new, closely monitored nutritional standards for school meals.

  Since the launch of Food for Life in 2003 there has been a huge rise in awareness and interest.

  

  Food for Life - practical work with schools, caterers and suppliers

  The practical Food for Life programme supports caterers in schools and councils to work towards achieving the Food for Life targets.

  These targets are designed to improve the health and nutrition of school meals and increase the use of fresh, organic and local ingredients: all that is needed to provide a ‘sustainable school meal’.

  In addition, through menu reform, localised sourcing and creative food education, the programme aims to raise pupils’ awareness and appreciation of food and a healthy diet using a whole-school approach.

  Unlocking the enthusiasm and desire of caterers and school cooks to improve school meals is key. However, not surprisingly, it is often the catering managers, cooks and dinner ladies who are the most vocal about the changes needed for them to mobilise their underused skills to prepare fresh and nutritious school meals.

  The Food for Life programme is based on a ‘joined-up’ approach where all the key players work together. School cooks and caterers need to be supported by teaching staff, parents and procurement teams to bring about changes to school meals and school food culture.

  Excellent work by pioneering individuals is already underway in many schools across the UK.

  Food for Life targets

  • At least 50% of meal ingredients should be sourced from the local region
  • At least 30% of the food served should be organic
  • Three-quarters of all foods should be made from unprocessed ingredients
  • School lunches should meet the nutrition targets set by the Caroline Walker Trust
  • Better classroom education on food and the sustainability issues. For example all school children to visit a farm at least once.

  National level Food for Life policy work

  The Soil Association has consistently asked Charles Clarke, secretary of state for education and skills, to act urgently to improve the quality of food in primary schools by:

  • Setting national quantified nutrient based standards (linked to daily dietary reference values) for primary school meal provision and
  • Providing substantial additional funding for ingredients costs.

  Who is behind Food for Life?

  Food for Life was set up by the Soil Association, Lizzie Vann (who runs Organix, a leading organic children's food company), Jeanette Orrey (head of catering at St Peter's Primary School, Nottingham which is sourcing local food), and Simon Brenman (Organic Networks), a specialist in the organic supply chain.

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  To learn more about the work of the Soil Association visit their website

   

  If you are keen to find out more about Food For Life visit

  We would like to thank the Soil Association for giving us permission to use their information and pictures on our site