Cutting down on sugar

Pupils from Carmarthenshire primary schools have been sharing their ideas on healthy eating through posters and writing.
They have been taking part in a competition organised by Carmarthenshire Healthy Schools, Carmarthenshire Libraries and Meryl Gravell of the ARCH – A Regional Collaboration for Health – an initiative, to write a story or poem on the implications of eating too much sugar.
The message cascaded throughout the county’s schools is that it has a detrimental effect on the health of children and young people.
With Carmarthenshire sitting second in the table of obese 4-5 year olds in Wales, the county recognises the need to raise awareness of the dangers and impact of eating too much sugar.
The competition was held along the following criteria:
Foundation Phase: poster design competition that promotes ‘Healthy Eating’
Years 3 and 4: Write a short story (no longer than 1,000 words) or a poem based on the importance of physical activity and / or Overeating.
Years 5 and 6: Write a short story (no longer than 1,000 words) or a poem based on Oral Hygiene and the impact of too much sugar on teeth.
Prizes awarded included admission tickets to the Leisure Centre, Parc y Scarlets Tickets, a family day ticket to Ffos Las and a family entry ticket to Pembrey Country Park.
The winners Emily Davies, Llyr Davies, Shannon Mainwaring, and Charley Eatley were presented with their prizes at an award ceremony at Ammanford Library.
Communities First supplied medals and trophies, and Carmarthenshire Libraries hosted the event with goody bags and information on library resources and a tour of the building that will encompass the new ‘Stordy Creadigol’.
Executive board member for culture, tourism and sport Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths said: “We believe that holding competitions such as this is a great way to engage with children regarding heathy eating/living. Congratulations to the winners and well done to all who took part.
“Following the competition it is envisaged that all the winners’ work will be part of a booklet that will give children, parents and teachers a resource to use in the future.”
Meryl Gravell said: “It was a very worthwhile competition because many children in Carmarthenshire have a problem with obesity and I thought this was an excellent way of tackling it. By teaching each other they will probably do something about it.
“I’m very grateful to all the schools and pupils that participated. It was a very successful morning and I think all the parents, teachers and nurses who attended felt it was very worthwhile and want to make it an annual event.”
The artwork will be exhibited at Ammanford Library until Friday August 5, Llanelli Library from August 7-19 and Carmarthen Library from August 21 until September 2 for parents/guardians to have an opportunity to see their children’s work.