Potato Week gets diced sliced and squeaked

Kidderminster students at Holy Trinity International School are learning their mash from their dice as the school takes part in National Potato Week from the 1 – 7 October.

Organised by The Potato Council and The School Food Trust who have joined forces to help introduce new potato recipe ideas onto school lunch menus, students from throughout Holy Trinity International will take part in potato based activities and sample a range of potato dishes care of the school’s in-house Chef, Simon Quill and his team.

Said Simon: “Last week we wanted to educate the children about healthy eating, and to show them how versatile healthy foods can be, with one new dish offered each day, they could add as much or as little to their food choice as they wanted.”

From fully-loaded potato skins with bacon, Cheddar cheese, spring onion and Worcestershire sauce, to layered potatoes with carrots and cheese, mashed potato with caramelised red onion and cheese pie, dauphinoise potatoes and the old family favourite bubble and squeak using diced potatoes!

For Potato Week, Simon will be buying his vegetables from a local independent supplier to highlight fresh produce from local suppliers.

Holy Trinity International School Head, Mrs Pamela Leek-Wright, commented: “Potatoes are an extremely nutritious vegetable and Simon and his team are always keen to offer a variety of potato recipes for the students to try.

“By taking part in Potato Week we hope to again highlight and educate the fact that there are numerous ways to eat this versatile vegetable and that there is more to the potato than just chips.”

As well as potato themed activities, from the smallest in the Nursery with potato shape drawing, students from across the school to Sixth Form will have the opportunity to investigate the many ways we can use the potato.

“Cost effective, easy to harvest and in our current financial climate, an ideal vegetable to buy. We hope we can inspire the students to explore the many culinary delights of the potato.” said Simon. “It’s the number 1 vegetable crop around the world, rich in fibre and vitamins such as vitamin C which makes it an important vegetable for growing children. In the future, we would love to hold another Vegetable Week!”

Issued: 10/10/2011