Learn the basics of a healthy diet

29.03.2011

Ilse Aigner, Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and star chef Tim Mälzer announce the winners of the competition "Kitchens for German Schools"

Federal Minister Ilse Aigner supports the concept of introducing children to the principles of a healthy diet at the earliest possible age. "A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle form the basis for personal well-being and high proficiency. Regular meals eaten together have unfortunately become a rare event in many families. Many do not even cook any more. That is why we have developed programmes, together with the schools, for introducing children to the basics of a healthy diet," said Ilse Aigner, Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, today when the winners of the competition "Kitchens for German Schools" received their awards in Löhne (North Rhine-Westphalia).

The competition is part of the Federal Government's campaign "IN FORM – German Initiative for a Healthy Diet and More Exercise" which was launched in April 2010 together with the Bertelsmann Foundation, Nolte Küchen, TV chef Tim Mälzer and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Schools nationwide have competed to win a new school kitchen. The objective behind IN FORM is to bring about a lasting improvement in the public's approach to food and exercise in Germany.

"The foundations for our eating habits are laid in early childhood. Schools are therefore an immensely important partner. In a school kitchen, the kids can learn that cooking together can be a real pleasure," said Ms. Aigner.

Awards went to the ten schools with the best concepts for using their teaching kitchen. The ten winners are as follows:

• Schule Eins in Berlin
• Germanus-Theiss-Oberschule in Döbern (Brandenburg)
• Ludwig-Leichhardt-Oberschule in Schwielochsee (Brandenburg)
• Willy-Brandt-Gesamtschule in Kerpen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
• Internationale Mittelschule Meerane in Meerane (Sachsen-Anhalt)
• August-Wilhelm-Mende-Schule in Bebra (Hesse)
• Werner-von-Siemens-Realschule in Wiesbaden (Hesse)
• Leopold-von-Daun-Realschule in Daun (Rhineland-Palatinate)
• Wippertus Schule in Kölleda (Thuringia)
• Schule Eigeltingen in Eigeltingen (Baden-Württemberg)

"Kitchens always have been and will always remain the place where families come together. Through our commitment, we at Nolte Küchen intend to help children learn how to use foods and improve their understanding of healthy eating," said Hans Hermann Hagelmann, CEO of Nolte.

"'Kitchens for German Schools' is a long-time programme designed to encourage a healthy diet and make cooking an exciting and entertaining part of the everyday school life of children and young people. The project is fun for the children and I find it is an excellent example of successful interaction between the state, industry and society at large,” said Dr. Brigitte Mohn for the Bertelsmann Foundation.

"This is a project to be taken up by more schools! Every new school kitchen brings the kids and us another step closer to leading a healthy life," said TV chef Tim Mälzer at the inauguration of a new teaching kitchen for the Erich-Gutenberg-Berufskolleg in nearby Bünde. Mälzer called on all schools to take part in the second round of the competition "Kitchens for German Schools" which was officially launched after the prize-giving ceremony. Closing date for applications is 14 October 2011.

For further information about the project and how to take part in the competition, visit www.kuechenfuerdeutschlandsschulen.de.

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