The visit gave learners the chance to learn directly from nutrition professionals about how we can keep our bodies healthy and the important role that food plays in our overall wellbeing. Through a fun and informative presentation, learners explored the different nutrients our bodies need, including vitamins, proteins and healthy fats, and discovered how these contribute to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The session was highly interactive, with learners taking part in quizzes and activities designed to test their knowledge and encourage discussion. One challenge saw learners creating their own balanced meals, thinking carefully about the foods they would include to provide the right combination of nutrients. While some of the meal ideas needed a little fine-tuning, there were plenty of great conversations and lots of learning along the way!

The experience then moved into the kitchen, where learners had the opportunity to prepare their own fruit kebabs. With a colourful selection of fruits including melon, kiwi, strawberries, watermelon, grapes and apples, learners were encouraged to try new foods and explore different flavours. For some, this meant stepping outside their comfort zones and tasting fruits they had never tried before.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was seeing learners actively engage with the session and begin thinking about how they could apply what they had learned at home. Leah, one of the learners who attended, shared that she was looking forward to exploring the cookbook provided by Viridian and hoped to make a healthy meal for her mum and dad.

Experiences like this demonstrate the value of bringing learning to life through meaningful employer engagement. Not only did learners gain a greater understanding of nutrition and healthy lifestyles, but they also had the opportunity to meet professionals, explore a workplace environment and develop confidence in trying new things.

To round off the visit, learners were delighted to receive a goodie bag to take home, helping them continue their learning beyond the session itself.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the team at Viridian Nutrition for making our learners feel so welcome and for delivering such an engaging and accessible experience. Their passion for health and wellbeing was clear to see, and we are delighted to hear they would like to work with the school again in the future. Well done to Danni the work expereience coordinator for arranging such a valuable workshop for young people as they begin their journey into adulthood.

Partnerships like this help broaden horizons, spark new interests and show learners how learning connects to everyday life. We look forward to seeing where this partnership leads next.