YOUNGSTERS at an Ipswich school have been getting their teeth into the subject of fruit.A special fruit tuck shop was set up at Castle Hill Infant's school giving many of them a taste of goodies they have never had before.

YOUNGSTERS at an Ipswich school have been getting their teeth into the subject of fruit.

A special fruit tuck shop was set up at Castle Hill Infant's school giving many of them a taste of goodies they have never had before.

The six and seven year olds not only got to taste the usual apples and bananas but also a whole range of things including dried and tinned fruit.

Organised by teacher Sarah Driver the tuck shop was intended to give the children an insight into the benefits of a healthy diet as well as teaching them about money.

The news comes on the day when health secretery John Reid was due to kick off the debate into how to get people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Government ministers hope his meeting today with NHS managers will help inform a new white paper on public health, which is expected to be published later this year.

At Castle Hill, once the year two children had learned about the fruit they then went to other classes to sell it, which taught them how to handle money.

Teacher Madeline Johnson was one of the people involved in the scheme.

She said: "A lot of them tasted food that they had never tasted before.

"We are a healthy eating school and it is about making children and their parents more aware.

"They now understand that they have to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day."

The youngsters also got a trip around Sainsbury's to show them how fruit is stored and the supermarket gave them £10 towards their tuck shop.

Asda supermarket also gave lots of fruit.

It is now hoped to roll out the fruit tuck shop to the children in other years if the money can be found to do it.

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