TWO Eden schools have received awards for promoting healthy eating.

Kirkby Stephen Grammar School and Penrith's Queen Elizabeth Grammar School took part in the Healthier Menu for Schools scheme and earned certificates from Eden District Council.

Four district councils - Eden, South Lakeland, Allerdale and Copeland - and Cumbria County Council created the Healthy Menus for Schools Awards to promote healthier eating choices within secondary schools.

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To take part, schools needed a food hygiene rating of four or five and had to meet national nutritional regulations.

Eden District Council’s Environment Portfolio Holder, Cllr Mike Tonkin, said: “We are delighted with the success of this pilot project and the way the two schools in Eden have embraced the healthy eating message in their school dinner menus.

“We recognise that poor diet and being overweight or obese can lead to health conditions such as type II diabetes, cancer, heart disease and strokes. So we are doing more to promote the benefits of healthy eating to children at young age, then they are less susceptible in later life. We hope that more schools can become involved in this initiative in the future.”

Both schools have reduced their saturated fat, sugar and salt in meals while increasing the quantity of fruit and vegetables.