Taste for life — schoolchildren use artistic skills in healthy eating and exercise competition

SCHOOLCHILDREN around the country have used their artistic skills to show different ways of staying healthy by eating well and taking plenty of exercise.

Out of more than 6,000 entries in a national competition aimed at promoting these principles, pupils from 17 schools travelled to Dublin Zoo to be presented with awards for their work yesterday.

The An Post Education Awards were handed out in recognition of their artistic and literary efforts on the themes of healthy eating and exercise.

The winners came from 10 counties and included two pupils — Aoife Nic Dhomhnaill and Eibhlín Lonergan — from Gaelscoil de hÍde in Fermoy, Co Cork.

Other winners hailed from schools in counties Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Mayo, Sligo and Waterford.

The Get a Taste for Life competition involved schools around the country receiving workbooks and posters. Pupils were then asked to submit artistic and written compositions along the general theme.

According to the organisers, the aim of the initiative was to motivate children to have a healthy balanced diet, be more adventurous with food and to enjoy exercise.

“The huge level of interest in this competition shows that young people are getting the messages about staying in good shape and learning that a healthy, balanced diet and plenty of exercise are of paramount importance,” said Barney Whelan, An Post’s head of business development and corporate affairs.