Healthy Heroes initiative launched to tackle poor diets among primary school children
- Love Ballymena
- Sep 24
- 2 min read
(L-R) Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey, Cllr Leah Kirkpatrick, and Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, Cllr Jackson Minford, launching the Healthy Heroes programme.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, in partnership with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, has unveiled a new educational initiative aimed at improving children’s dietary habits.
The Healthy Heroes programme, launched this week, offers a free, interactive teaching resource designed to help young children understand the importance of nutrition, hydration, and food safety.
Empowering Young Minds Through Nutrition Education
The Healthy Heroes resource, developed with input from Public Health Dietitians at the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, features a comprehensive set of lesson plans and a child-friendly booklet. It covers key topics including sugar intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, hydration, food preparation, and understanding food labels such as use-by and best-before dates.
Tailored for use in any group setting involving primary-aged children, the resource is flexible and easy to adapt to different schedules and needs. It aims to make learning about healthy eating both fun and accessible.
Council Leaders Champion the Programme
Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey, Cllr Leah Kirkpatrick, and Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, Cllr Jackson Minford, launching the Healthy Heroes programme.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, praised the initiative, stating:
“As part of Council’s commitment to improving the lives of our residents, this initiative addresses an essential element in the prevention of long-term health problems, raising awareness amongst our youngest citizens.”
He added:
“With one in three children now classified as overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, and only 18% of children consuming the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, we must do our part to encourage children to think about what they eat.”
“This free resource will give locally based groups access to simple, interactive messages and activities to get our young children thinking about the importance of a healthy diet.”
Accessing the Healthy Heroes Resource
The Healthy Heroes materials are available to download free of charge from the Council’s website:
A limited number of printed copies can be requested by contacting the Community Health and Wellbeing Team via email at wellbeing@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or by calling 028 2563 3394.
