The Challenge was introduced by the Captain’s Team to the pupils through an information session at S1 Assembly as well as to the P5-P7 classes at the cluster primary schools. Each pupil was given an information pack and a weekly Challenge activity task to complete.
In addition to this the pupils were issued with a folder to file the Challenge information and a series of competitions was set for the six weeks.
Week 1 Challenge
The Captain’s Team visited each school to present an information session on Eating for Health highlighting a balanced plate model, which shows what proportion of the different food groups everyone should eat to ensure a healthy diet. The Challenge was to keep a food diary for seven days where the pupil and their partner could reflect on what they ate each day and how it met the Eating for Health model. The competition was to design a poster showing everything they or their partner ate in one day on the Eating for Health plate.
Week 2 Challenge
For week 2 the Captain’s Team challenged pupils and their partners to eat a healthy lunch each day based on the Eating for Health model introduced in week 1 and to keep a lunch diary for seven days. Pupils were issued with a leaflet, a diary sheet and also a free packed lunch.
Week 3 Challenge
For week 3 of the Challenge all pupils were issued with a pedometer, for themselves and their partner, a leaflet pack and a diary sheet. The Challenge was to count the number of steps taken each day. To introduce this Challenge the presentation from the Captain’s Team highlighted the importance of physical activity for good health as well as energy input and output.
At the same time within Linlithgow Academy maths and physical education (PE) lessons had learning activities focusing on the use of pedometers.
Week 4 Challenge
This week the Captain’s Challenge was to think about what you drink! The presentation to the pupils informed them about the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks and sweetened juices and gave eight good reasons for drinking eight glasses of water a day:
- healthier teeth and gums
- fresher breath
- better concentration
- healthier skin, hair and body
- helps keep body in shape
- prevents dehydration
- helps people to feel more active and have more energy.
For this Challenge pupils received a free bottle of water for themselves and their partner, an information leaflet and a diary sheet to complete each evening.
Week 5 Challenge
The Challenge this week was to eat 5-a-day everyday by counting how many portions of fruit and vegetables are in their diet and suggest ways of meeting this target.
During this Challenge the pupils received free cartons of fruit juice or pieces of fruit for themselves and their partners, an information sheet and a diary sheet.
Week 6 Challenge
The final Challenge was to begin with breakfast with the presentation to the pupils regarding the benefits of eating breakfast.
Part of the Challenge included the issuing of free breakfast cereals and fruit juices to all primary pupils for themselves and their partners. In the secondary school the pupils took part in a ‘Begin with a Business Breakfast’ where they took part in group discussion tasks.
