Schoolchildren have been awarded prizes for the healthiness of their packed lunch in a bid to improve eating habits.

Jean Atherden, the Minister of Health made the presentation to pupils at the Healthy Lunch School Challenge Awards.

“Helping our young children learn how to eat well and to stay healthy will reap long term dividends that all Bermudians can benefit from,” said Ms Atherden.

“This year the school nurses started a monthly school lunch check programme to assess the nutritional content of student lunches.

“This challenge promoted healthy eating habits to primary and middle school students through utilising the Bermuda Dietary Guidelines and the EatWell Plate.”

Ms Atherden said the response from schools, teachers and parents to the challenge was “commendable”.

“Teachers taught students the lesson plans developed by Nutrition Services,” Ms Atherden added. “ Parents along with students shared together in developing healthy trash free lunches. The lunches were evaluated by the teachers for nutrient content, eye appeal, nutrition explanation and originality of vegetables.

“First, second and third place winners from each school were submitted with amazing pictures of healthy lunches that they prepared. A panel of judges reviewed the submissions to select overall first, second and third place winners from each year level.”

In the P1 category first place went to McKenzie Kowalski, second to Christina Lee and third to Dylan Walker.

In P2 first place went to Genesis Payne, second to Jahzy Simmons and third to Tristan Orchard.

In P3 first place went to Taylor Herzog, second to Masaki Kitade and third to Maddox Foley.

In P4 first place went to Kennedy Kowalski and Celia Robinson, second to Taliah Wade and third to Robin Pearman.

In P5 first place went to Keziah Smith, second to Ethan Clarke and third to Amy Paulos

In P6 first place went to Kezjah Weeks, second to Isabel Roe and third to Max Yashar.

In Y8 first place went to Eilidh Redmond, second to Amber Simons and third to Hope Dragonetti.