Healthy pizzas, vegetarian pasta and chicken flat breads are now on the menu!

A nine-year-old from Norwich has benefited from a Norwich City Community Sports Foundation programme aimed at inspiring families to eat healthily and exercise regularly.

Since September, Mason and his classmates at George White Junior School have benefitted from fun activities, sports and games over the lunch-break led by the Foundation’s Active Canaries programme coordinator Kayleigh Robb.

Mason, and his father Bertie, were chosen to take part in an additional 6-week targeted Active Canaries programme by his class teacher, centred around healthy eating and being active in the kitchen.

Bertie had struggled to find healthy meals that Mason would eat at home, so when he heard about the opportunity to join the programme, he was very keen.

Once a week, Mason and Bertie joined Kayleigh at The Nest, where they had use of the site’s kitchen to produce an affordably priced and nutritious dinner. Their efforts included healthy pizzas, vegetarian pasta and chicken flat breads.

Tapping into Mason’s love of football, Kayleigh ensured the sessions always had a strong Canaries flavour to them. They used recipe cards created by the club’s first-team chef Dan Savage for the recent Active Canaries health month campaign in schools which featured the likes of Tim Krul, Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent.

Kayleigh has been very impressed with Mason’s progress. She said:

“He was tentative at first when trying new foods and didn’t like many foods he was presented with. However, as time went by, he became willing to try new foods and will now eat courgettes, peppers and onions which is a really encouraging step.

“It’s not just his knowledge on healthy habits that has improved – I’ve noticed his self-assurance, concentration and his communication skills have all increased massively, too.”

Following the completion of the programme, Mason and his father visited Carrow Road for their own behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, as well as receiving complimentary tickets to watch the Canaries play.

They’ve continued recreating some of the meals at home, and have even asked Kayleigh for more recipes to try!

Mason continues to enjoy the lunch-time sport sessions with Kayleigh and his classmates, and he hopes to continue benefiting from other Foundation programmes this summer.