Youngsters at Bedford Modern School were cooking up a treat last week, courtesy of a healthy eating event run by the Food Standards Agency.

Its Cooking Bus took 48 pupils through a range of healthy meals, teaching them how to make dishes such as aloo tikka, chickpea salad,
luscious lime lassi and flavoured foccacia.

Junior school teacher Helen Avery, who organised the visit, said: "I believe it is important that all children, regardless of background, develop their knowledge and understanding of basic nutrition, safety, food hygiene and cooking skills.

"The experiences that the children will gain through cooking on the bus, in a state-of-the-art kitchen with specialist food teachers, will enhance the children's personal development, raise their awareness of a range of food cultures and increase their knowledge of food origins and how they contribute to a balanced diet.

"Healthy eating is an important, high-profile issue in the world today, and it is important that our children are given the tools they need to enable them to make healthy food choices for themselves".