TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham has joined ProVeg UK’s pioneering School Plates programme as an official ambassador, urging schools to introduce more plant-based options on lunch menus.

The non-profit organisation has made over 6.4 million school meals healthier and more sustainable by becoming meat-free or plant-based.

By advising on school menus, developing delicious new recipes, and delivering chef training workshops - all free of charge - the ProVeg UK team helps schools to increase the quality and quantity, and uptake, of veggie meals.

Chris, who lives in the New Forest said: "It's all about getting young people in schools to explore a more plant-based diet, because, we’ve got to be honest here - in order for us to hope for a healthier, happier, more sustainable future, we need to make some changes."

ProVeg UK works with 37 major school caterers, mostly local authorities, across the UK to create more inclusive, nutritious and climate-friendly school menus.

The School Plates programme currently covers 3,500 schools feeding 588,000 children each day, and has so far reduced food emissions by over 5 million kilograms - equivalent to the annual emissions of over 1,300 cars.

 

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