‘Fish 2 a week’ project highlighting the importance of eating fish and shellfish

BY NEWS REPORTER
shuz@slpmedia.co.uk

Children from a primary school held, peeled and tasted a variety of seafood as part of an education project highlighting the importance of eating fish and shellfish.

Seafood expert Paula Williams of The Seafood School at Billingsgate visited the school and taught children the importance of including fish in their diet, as well as showing the children how delicious seafood is.

The visit to Ronald Ross Primary School in Beaumont Road, Southfields  was part of the UK-wide campaign Fish 2 a Week which aims to raise awareness of the health benefits of eating seafood twice a week.

The campaign began after organisers Seafish carried out research which found that more than 70 per cent  of adults didn’t know that they should eat two portions of fish a week, including one oily fish.

The research said that less than 50 per cent of people asked were aware that eating seafood was good for maintaining a healthy blood pressure, as well as being good for your skin, hair, nails, and eyesight. Only half knew that seafood was good for their heart health.

Paula Williams, schools co-ordinator of The Seafood School at Billingsgate, gave children the opportunity to touch and hold different seafood while explaining why fish is good for their health.

They were introduced to a range of species and put the seafood to the taste test by giving pupils the chance to try some fish.

Paula said: “The purpose of these events is to get children handling and trying seafood.

 “Even many adults don’t know about the variety of seafood available and just how many types of fish there are. We want the children to think about fish as a healthy food, develop a taste for eating it regularly and even teach their parents what they have learned.”

The roadshow event was held on Friday, January 19. For more information about the campaign, visit the Fish 2 a Week website at www.2aweek.co.uk