The benefits of red meat in a teenage diet, was one of the topics on the menu at a conference for home economics’ teachers in Belfast on Saturday (19th March).

More than 100 HE teachers from schools across Northern Ireland attended the half-day event, which is organised annually by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) for Northern Ireland in conjunction with Meat and Education, a body which supports food education.

Dr Carrie Ruxton, TV nutritionist, health writer and dietitian was the keynote speaker and addressed delegates on the topic: can nutrients in red meat benefit secondary school children? 

Commentating on Dr Ruxton’s presentation, LMC’s industry Development Manager, Colin Smith said, “Red meat has a vital role to play in delivering key nutrients such as iron, protein, zinc and B vitamins to secondary school children.  It was quite shocking to hear that 40% of girls surveyed as part of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) in 2014 had low iron intake levels.  Dr Ruxton clearly demonstrated the importance of lean red meat for learning and sports performance with red meat providing almost a fifth of daily protein intakes in young people.  NDNS data has shown that there is room for improvement in the diet of many secondary school children and fresh lean cuts of beef and lamb can certainly be part of the solution.”

The new Eatwell Guide was explained by Joanne Casey, from the FSA in NI’s Standards and Dietary Health team. Representatives from the British Nutrition Foundation, Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the LMC also spoke at the conference.

Cherrie Kenny, Education Services Manager at LMC said, “The Annual Conference provides an opportunity to update teachers with topical, relevant and factual information on diet, health and nutrition relevant to the Northern Ireland curriculum. 

“We provide a broad range of resources to home economics’ teachers here through cookery demonstrations and via our website www.food4life.org.uk  The conference is a great way of bringing delegates up to speed on our work and plans for the future, as well as a way of learning best practice from professionals across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.” 

ENDs

For further information please contact Lyn Sheridan or Katrina Frazer, Aiken PR on 028 9066 3000 or email Lyn@aikenpr.com or Katrina@aikenpr.com

Notes to editors:

• Keynote speaker, Dr Carrie Ruxton has a PhD in Child Nutrition and has had more than 100 articles published on diet and health.   She also heads up the consultancy, Nutrition Communications and has worked with a wide range of organisations including the NHS, the Food Standards Agency, the European Commission, major food companies and PR agencies.  She is also a regular contributor to news programmes and worked with BBC Three’s, ‘Honey we’re killing the kids.’  She is a member of the Meat Advisory Panel (MAP), a group of healthcare professionals, scientists and researchers who provide independent and objective information about red meat and its role as part of a healthy, balanced diet.