Old Trafford healthy eating lessons for kids

The class of Year 6 children from St Philip’s CE Primary School, Hulme, took part in an interactive healthy eating workshop with the club’s award-winning Chef Tagg and his team.

Chef Tagg, executive head chef at Manchester United, began the session engaging the children about the club’s catering team, matchday operations and the dietary requirements of first team and women’s team players.

The students were then tasked with making their own healthy wraps for lunch, with nutritious, alternative ingredients; many of which were completely new to them.

Head Chef Darren Hamilton led the activity and enjoyed giving an insight into the club’s catering team: “The event has gone really well; all the kids have been involved and tried things they haven’t tried before. The children were really inquisitive and keen to learn about what the likes of Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo eat before games.

“For example, they were keen to learn about the set menus that we offer to each team put together by the chefs and nutritionists.

“At the training ground, we use a buffet-style service, so the player has a choice and we often make special requests for players, too. For our new signings, we will learn about their preferred food choices from their native country and often adapt our menus to their specific diets.

“For away days, we tend to make things like a chicken salad to boost carb intake. Ronaldo tends to lean towards a chicken salad.”

One of the students said: "It's really interesting to learn that before games the players eat really healthy, but, afterwards, they need more carbohydrates to help them recover."

Darren concluded: “It’s so important that we teach children at a young age about healthy eating as these skills will take them right through to adulthood. It’s really important for us to be helping with this.”

St Philip’s CE Primary School is partnered with Manchester United Foundation through its Primary Reds programme. Dedicated coaches deliver healthy eating and physical literacy courses in association with the national Premier League Primary Stars initiative.

For more information visit: https://www.mufoundation.org/Projects/Primary-Reds