BE COOL AND VISIT FUW STAND AT URDD EISTEDDFOD

It will be cool to be seen on the Farmers' Union of Wales stand during the Swansea and District Urdd National Eisteddfod next week (May 30-June 4).

The union will be promoting the work of school milk suppliers "Cool Milk" who recently teamed up with Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin to launch a free milk scheme to get more children drinking milk in cylchoedd meithrin (Welsh-medium playgroups) and nurseries across Wales.

FUW staff on the stand will also be giving away cartons of milk for youngsters to sample plus copies of Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales' "Cool2Cook2" bilingual booklet which includes carefully constructed and perfectly balanced recipes to ensure kids across Wales will be desperate to dice, frantic to fry and raring to roast!

FUW president Gareth Vaughan said: "All children under the age of five are entitled to 189ml of milk (third of a pint) at school, play group or nursery but implementing the Cool Milk/MYM scheme has historically come at a large cost to the schools and nurseries themselves.

"School staff have to complete the administration but nurseries also have to fund the children's milk whilst waiting for reimbursement.

"The scheme removes this obligation, as the milk will be fully funded on the cylch meithrin and nursery's behalf meaning they will no longer have to complete administration or claim paperwork.

"It is important for children to drink milk. Health advisers tell us everyone should try to consume at least three portions of dairy a day.

"School milk is ideal for children because it offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to build strong healthy teeth and bones, as well as providing a vital boost of nearly every nutrient essential to their development."

Mr Vaughan said the union was also pleased to highlight the work of HCC by promoting its cookbook. "Research carried out by HCC revealed that many teachers are faced with difficult decisions when it comes to teaching about food.

"Teachers have said that there is often not enough time in the curriculum, or a lack of resources to do the subject justice. That's why HCC produced the original Cool2Cook and, last summer, the follow-up Cool2Cook2.

"They are both high quality and colourful booklets which appeal to primary schoolchildren and help get across the message that a balanced diet is part of a healthy lifestyle.

"It provides essential pointers to choosing, preparing and presenting food that will stand our children in good stead for the rest of their lives.

"HCC encourages everyone to cook balanced meals which include local ingredients, which of course means PGI Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef, and this is especially true of our young people."

Cool2Cook2 features recipes for filled Crispy Bread Cases; Meaty Tomato Pasta; Sticky Carrot and Orange Muffins; Welsh Lamb Stir Fry; Welsh Lamb Patties; Beefy Chip-Topped Pie; Stir-Fry Fruit; Spicy Welsh Lamb Koftas; Sweet and Sour Pork; Fun & Tasty Sarnies and Easy Peasy Salad.