Keynote speakers announced for UK’s first Children’s Food Conference

5th January 2012, 11:22am

Sir Michael Marmot and Dame Clare Tickell are to head a line-up of speakers on why better food for children is at the heart of improving public health, at a new conference to be held in March.

The chairs of 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives' and 'The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning' will top the bill of speakers at the UK's first Children's Food Conference, launched by the Children's Food Trust with the School Food Trust.

The UK's first Children's Food Conference, launched by the Children's Food Trust with the School Food Trust and taking place at the CBI Conference Centre in London on Wednesday, 7th March, will focus on early years, food and health inequalities for children and the role of parents in helping children to eat well.

Also taking centre stage will be children's minister Sarah Teather; professor Richard Parrish, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health; and MyDaddyCooks blogger Nick Coffer, along with representatives for childcare providers, local authority children's services, medical experts and food manufacturers.

Children's Food Trust chairman, Rob Rees, said: "A decent diet is one of the fundamentals which has the power to help every child to reach their potential in life - improving their ability to learn at school, their behaviour, their health and wellbeing.
 
"But in a society where some have never had so much whilst others have never been so poor, far too many children are missing out on this most basic of needs - suffering the impact of malnourishment at one end of the scale and obesity at the other. 
 
"These issues are, literally, eating away at our economy, the NHS and family life – so what more can we do to help parents? Is Government doing enough? How can the food industry really make a difference, and how can nutrition be used more effectively to improve the life chances of children?"

Discussion-based workshops, interactive presentations, a busy exhibition and a post-event reception are all part of the agenda. Places at the event are limited but can be booked online at: http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/news-events/events; by telephone on 0800 089 5001 or by emailing events@childrensfoodtrust.org.uk. Early bird and third sector discounts are available.

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