Free Lidl Foodies programme opens to County Antrim primary schools
(L-R) Caroline McKenna, Foodies Spokesperson, Eimear O'Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland
Primary schools across County Antrim can now register for a new free food education programme aimed at helping young children build healthy eating habits and become more confident about fruit and vegetables.
Lidl Foodies is open to schools across Northern Ireland and provides teachers of children aged four to seven with ready-made lesson plans, activities and practical classroom resources. The first 150 teachers to register for the first module will also receive a £100 Lidl gift card.
Food education from an early age
The programme comes against a concerning picture of diet in Northern Ireland. The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey found fruit and vegetable consumption was below the recommended level across all age and sex groups measured, while average fibre intake was also below government recommendations across every age group.
Among 11 to 18-year-olds, just 4% were meeting the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, with young people in that age group eating an average of 2.4 portions daily.
Lidl Foodies aims to start those conversations much earlier, giving younger primary school pupils opportunities to taste, grow and prepare fresh produce while learning where their food comes from.
Three seasonal classroom modules
Delivered in the classroom, the programme is divided into three modules across the school year. Lidl Tasters, delivered in autumn, encourages children to explore the smell, taste and texture of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Lidl Growers follows in spring and teaches pupils where food comes from and how to grow their own, while the summer-term Lidl Makers module introduces simple healthy recipes and basic cooking skills.
The £40,000 Northern Ireland programme is linked to the curriculum area The World Around Us and includes free lesson plans, activity sheets, classroom displays, shopping lists and food safety and allergen guidance. A full Irish-language version will also be available for Gaelscoileanna.
Making healthy food familiar
Caroline McKenna, Foodies Spokesperson, Eimear O'Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland
Registered dietitian Orla Walsh said repeatedly exposing children to unfamiliar foods in a relaxed setting can help build confidence around what they eat.
“One of the biggest misconceptions around children and healthy eating is that if they refuse a food once, they simply don’t like it. In reality, it can take many opportunities for a child to become comfortable with a new food, and those experiences are often most successful when there is no pressure to eat it.
“That is why programmes like Lidl Foodies can be so valuable. A child might grow a vegetable before tasting it, learn where it comes from, prepare it with their classmates or simply become familiar with how it looks and feels. All of those experiences count.
“Building a positive relationship with food starts with curiosity and confidence and giving children those opportunities early can make a meaningful difference to how they approach food as they grow.”
Former teacher, educator and podcaster Caroline McKenna has partnered with Lidl NI for the launch. She now runs an education centre in Castlewellan focusing on confidence, resilience and life skills among young people.
“As a former teacher, I know how powerful practical, hands-on learning can be for children. When pupils are encouraged to ask questions, try new things and get involved, that is when learning really sticks.
“What I love about Lidl Foodies is that it makes food education and nutrition feel fun and accessible. It gives children the chance to explore fruit and vegetables through taste, play, growing and simple recipes, while giving teachers ready-made resources they can use in the classroom. I’m proud to support the launch here in Northern Ireland and I would urge schools and teachers to get involved.”
Lunchbox song joins campaign
The programme also features Cork youth music collective Kabin Crew, the group behind viral hit ‘The Spark’, which has created an original track and music video called ‘Lidl Lunchbox Flex’.
The song is designed to encourage primary school children to become more curious and confident about fruit, vegetables and healthier lunchbox choices.
Eimear O Sullivan, Corporate Affairs Director for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said the initiative was intended to make food education practical and age appropriate.
“By bringing food education into the classroom in a fun, practical and age-appropriate way, we hope to help children develop a positive relationship with healthy food from an early age.”
How County Antrim teachers can register
Registration for Lidl Foodies is open now, with teachers able to sign up through the National Schools Partnership. Lidl confirmed registrations opened on 15 September.
With the first 150 teachers registering for the opening module eligible for the £100 Lidl gift card, schools interested in taking part are being encouraged to register while places in the introductory offer remain available.
