Schools Advised to Have Meat Free Day Each Week

It's official. School Food Plan.

Healthier School Meals in Croydon?

"Encourage all children to have a meat-free day each week, using alternatives such as pulses, soya
mince, tofu and Quorn™.

Ensure vegetarian meals are as varied as the rest of the menu by using pulses twice a week, soya,
tofu, or Quorn™ once or twice each week, and eggs and cheese once or twice each week."

No excuses now Croydon!

Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "This is a great first step to fighting childhood obesity and diabetes. We look forward to seeing how these guidelines are put into practice"

Meat Free Mondays in London - Croydon Health

http://londonvegansocieties.com/lmfm/

London Meat Free Mondays

Croydon Health Officials

Now that the #changeyourplate campaign seems to be getting off the ground thanks to an article in the Daily Mail  and the success of The London Vegan Society In Southwark It's probably about time we had another stab at trying to talk the Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Council in Croydon into tackling the obesity and diabetes problems in our area head on.

#LondonMeatFreeMondays is in line with the latest research that we should eat MORE THAN 7 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and government recommendations that say that any amount of red meat increases your risk of bowel cancer and that no more than 1 small portion of meat should be eaten per day.

Croydon's PCT dietitians have claimed in the past that a plant based diet is something the British Dietetic Association cannot condone as it excludes important food groups even though their (out of date) Vegetarian and Vegan Diet information sheet admits 'Well planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of life'

NHS eatwell plate advises a portion of Cake and Cola a day

 With the certainty that 5 a day, probably only 3 portions of vegetables a day, is woefully inadequate to help protect our children from chronic disease isn't it time we started a meaningful education program with one day a week focusing on increasing the foods we need to eat more of.

One Meat Free Day a week across all council sponsored facilities seems the very least a responsible administration could do.

Croydon Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says 'The latest NHS recognised research has at last caught up with Nutrition Therapist optimum Nutrition advice that is we should be eating at least 5 portions of vegetables a day,  3 portions of fruit with an emphasis on berries, at least one portion of beans a day and one portion of essential fat rich seeds a day. The fact that we need to encourage and educate children and their parents about eating more natural, fresh, plant foods is undeniable even for a head in the sand Tory Council with a laissez faire attitude to public health"

It's unquestionably not a case of letting sleeping dogs lie, the rabid dogs of morbid obesity, heart disease and childhood diabetes are biting health budgets squarely on the bum - it is irresponsible to simply dismiss solutions such as a 5 a Day Day in Croydon

London in 5 a Day : Video : Pics

London's scrumptious skyline: Video: Good Food Channel

London has been given the 5 a day fruit and vegetable healthy treatment in this incredible creation commissioned by the Good Food Channel (formerly UKTV Food)

The finished artwork took Carl Warner and his team of five model makers three weeks to craft, construct and compile. Challenges they faced included how to keep the fresh and highly perishable fruit and vegetables looking their best for the final image and which types of produce would compliment the grandeur of the iconic buildings.

London's premier landmark Big Ben was recreated with slices of citrus fruit while an edible version of The Houses of Parliament is built with a mix of asparagus, green and runner beans subtly mixed with baby sweetcorn to depict the intricate stonework of the political palace.

195 BAFTA AWARD NOMINATION

195

Now BAFTA have recieved a nomination for an award.... The weirdest vegetable competition at the Croydon eco veggie fayre - this is BAFTA's entry - think you can do better than this ? Bring yours along on Sunday Nov 1st at Fairfield Halls Croydon www.ecoveggiefayre.co.uk

The Sunflower Squash

Only BAFTA could come up with something so stylish - we were expecting lots and lots of 3 legged carrots and tomatoes with protruberances.

This is a pleasant and colourful surprise entry to the competition and goes straight into the lead.

If you have something equally or even more outstanding then drop it off at Surrey Street fruit and Veg Market's Stand at Fairfield Halls on Sunday Nov 1st . Don't forget to attach your contact details.

Too Few Americans Eating Their Fruit And Veg, CDC Report

 Too Few Americans Eating Their Fruit And Veg, CDC Report

87 % of American High School Students admit they eat less than 3 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. 68% say they eat less than 2 portions per day proking fears that avoidable chronic diseases such as Diabetes, heart disease and cancers will continue to rise as a new generation of McDonald/KFC/Pizza Hut customers follow in their parents footsteps towards ill health.

Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "These kids are setting themselves up for a host of painful preventable diseases in later life and huge problems for Government who will have to juggle the economic implications of a sick nation"

Yvonne will be targetting London's youngsters and their parents at The Croydon Eco Veggie Fayre on 1st Novemberat fairfield Halls. There will be 5 a day t-shirts, bags and 5 a day sticker charts to be won.

Top Tips - 5 A DAY

Top Tips - 5 A DAY

Just waiting on the 5 a Day Day Big Sunday Lunch menu from Fairfield Halls in Croydon for the launch of our 5 a Day day Campaign .

Watch this space.

The Green Dragon Pub has also agreed to put on a special 5 a Day Menu

Attack of the5 a Day Day Veg

The 5 a Day vegetables strike again in the heart of Croydon in Croydon's busy Whitgift Shopping Centre as part of the National Family Learning week activities. The 2 Carrots and helpers from dadstime.org.uk helped children to make fruit kebabs with 5 different portions of fruit on. Croydon Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston was on hand to give advice about helping kids to eat more fruit and vegetables and how by eating more fruit and veg you can help to avoid being one of Croydon's thousands of Diabetics or residents dying unnaturally early of heart disease and stroke. The vegetables will also be appearing at Fairfield Halls on Sunday 1st November for the Launch of the 5 a Day Day campaign

Words of Support for Croydon's 5 a Day Day

Ethical Junction - Ethical Pulse

Now we are cooking on bio-gas as support comes flooding in.

"I support the excelant idea of promoting one day a week as a Vegetarian Day. Croydon must lead the way as a progressive borough! "
Nitin Mehta MBE

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"This has my full support"
Tony Newman - Labour Group Leader - Croydon Council

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"Really good to see you taking this action on the ground. We wrote to Councillor Fisher along with every other Council leader at the start of NVW to try and get them to take up this initiative but had no response."
Annette Pinner CEO Vegetarian Society UK

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"Good luck - I think it is a great idea."
Diana Jarvis - Croydon Journalist - Newsquest South London

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"This sounds a great thing to be doing - I hope it goes really well."
Khemasiddhi - Croydon Buddhists

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"It sounds like public engagement is more or less guaranteed so I hope it goes well and that the public take on board the FSA/ DH messages regarding diet and healthy eating that you'll no doubt be promoting. Thanks for bringing this to my notice, and I hope your event is a success"
Catherine Collins - Chief Dietician at St George's Hospital, spokesperson for the BDA

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"Good luck with your campaign."
Dr Harshad N Sanghrajka - Director, Institute of Jainology

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"What a great idea, the 1st November is in the diary"
Fiona Woodcock - Surrey Street fruit & veg market - Market Inspector

Croydon Lags Behind in the UK Meat Free Day Race

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Liverpool schools to go meat free once a week

Our campaign contacts today revealed that Liverpool council has already put a motion forward and the council are currently putting a document together to push it forward.

Liverpool schools could be the first in the UK to go meat free one day every week encouraged by Sir Paul McCartney

Brighton, Lancaster and Leeds are also putting a motion to the full council with help from Animal Aid (See www. Meat Free Monday .com )

Meanwhile Bristol council are being targeted by Viva's Fruity Funday Campaign , Thames Valley Vegetarians have Reading Council in their sights and Veggies at the Sumac Centre are targetting Nottingham  Council.

Croydon Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says " I don't understand why Croydon Council are so resistant to such an obvious and logical simple solution. They have been sent the same information that other councils have been sent but they are lagging behind more open minded forward thinking councils. 5 a Day Days are an obvious first step, inexpensive, positive solution for sustainabilty and health"


Croydon Eco Veggie Fayre at Fairfield Halls: Lineups, directions and info

Can We Dig It? Croydon Vegetables

London Borough of Croydon: Current projects - Can We Dig It?

As part of The Croydon Food Festival there is the Can We Dig It? project.

Submit your photos of your favourite vegetables for an Art Exhibition in Croydon High Street.

999 Emergency in Croydon

Call for Croydon Council to introduce a '5 a Day Day' to save Croydon from a fate worse than death.

999 Emergency in Croydon Targeted by Health & Environmental Groups by Foods For Life London Nutrition - Yvonne Bishop-weston: "www.croydon.ecoveggiefayre.co.uk"

Health Professionals, Vegans, Vegetarians, Green Environmentalists, Animal Welfare Campaigners, Fair Trade groups, and a Radio Station are joining a concerted effort to put pressure on Croydon Council to be the first UK Council in the UK to designate one day a week to be meat free and focus on eating more fruit and vegetables and reach the target of 5 a day.

"It's easy" says Croydon Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston "It just takes a bit of practice - one day a week to focus on 5 a day is a great way to start!"