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Frances Meek; Education Services Manager, British Nutrition Foundation
In this celebratory issue of Futureminds, I think it is timely to reflect on the history of the Food – a fact of life programme, the support we continue to give to schools, teachers and their pupils and consider our role in the future of food education and addressing wider national priorities.
Food – a fact of life (FFL) started back in 1991, in a partnership with government (MAFF), to ensure that schools had access to high-quality, evidenced-based and school-appropriate resources (all pre-internet of course). From the very start the focus was on ensuring that we had a strong, rigorous and robust approach to food and nutrition education - and this drive has never stopped. While the way in which we provide support and learning has changed over the decades, with the increasing use of technology, the spirit and values of the programme remain unchanged.
For the last eight years, FFL has been a partnership between the British Nutrition Foundation and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), each organisation bringing experience, knowledge, skills and expertise to the programme.
So, what is the Food – a fact of life education programme?
FFL is a comprehensive, progressive food education programme designed to equip children and young people (aged 3–16) with knowledge and skills related to healthy eating, cooking, and understanding where food comes from. FFL is grounded in a whole-school approach, delivering consistent, evidence-based messaging about food across the curriculum and beyond. It is aligned with UK food and nutrition curricula and supports subjects such as Design & Technology, Health & Wellbeing, Science, Geography, RSE, and literacy/numeracy.
FFL provides expert education resources to inspire a lifetime of good food and nutrition.
How does Food – a fact of life support teachers in school?
FFL was originally a programme for secondary school food teachers. As the programme transitioned from physical boxes of materials to a dedicated website in 2005, content for primary schools, which my colleague Claire Theobald joined the British Nutrition Foundation to develop, was added. Claire has been instrumental in providing support for schools for over 20 years!
The FFL programme now supports teachers at any stage of their career and pupils at all age phases and provides:
Evidence-based and curriculum-aligned support and resources
FFL ensures accurate, up-to-date information about food, nutrition, and health. Our curriculum-aligned structure ensures that food education supports statutory and non-statutory frameworks across the UK.A progressive learning journey
Visual tools like the Food curriculum roadmaps present a journey of what children and young people aged 3–16 years need to know. These help schools plan coherent progression and align lessons with expectations. These are supported by Knowledge organisers for each topic and age phase.A whole-school and inclusive approach
FFL promotes not just lesson delivery but a whole-school ethos around food—linking policies, family engagement, school meals, skills development, and cultural practices. It also provides tailored materials and guidance for pupils with additional needs (SEND).Support for educators
Through online toolkits, guidelines on good practice, hygiene and safety resources, and frameworks like the Core Competences for Children and Young People (5–16 years), FFL provides a robust support system for teachers.Practical skills and real-world relevance
FFL’s recipe bank, challenge-based activities and themed activity packs around historic periods or festivals, and projects like “Party Time”, “Get Baking” or “Grab and Go”, make learning tangible and relevant.
Support for teachers through free professional development
In recent years, training has become an increasingly important aspect of the FFL programme, supporting teachers with their knowledge, skills and confidence but also helping to stretch schools’ limited budgets by providing the majority of our training as fully funded for teachers and other school staff.
This year we have developed two fantastic, new CPD programmes. The Essentials CPD training (from Food – a fact of life) and the Oak – Food curriculum to classroom CPD programme (from the British Nutrition Foundation). These CPD programmes:
Addresses a critical need: Many primary teachers have limited training in food and nutrition; likewise, secondary non-subject specialists often lack confidence in delivering cooking and nutrition content. The new CPD offers targeted support.
Builds educator confidence and competence: Through structured yet flexible modules, practical guidance, and a whole-school ethos.
Enhances inclusivity and progression: Resources cater to diverse learners, and emphasis is placed on progression, good practice, and inclusive instruction.
Aligns with key frameworks: Ensures consistency with national curriculum developments and food education benchmarks (e.g., Oak National Academy curriculum, PHE/British Nutrition Foundation frameworks, Core Competences).
Scales impact: Training thousands of educators has the potential to reshape food education practice across schools in the UK.
The Essentials CPD programme supports trainee, early career and non-subject specialist teachers and the Oak – Food curriculum to classroom CPD programme brings the new Oak National Academy Cooking and Nutrition curriculum to life.
Consistency, continuity and looking to the future are the key!
The Food – a fact of life programme gives teachers the confidence, resources, and structure to make food education meaningful and manageable. With ready-to-use lesson plans, recipes, activity packs, and progression frameworks, FFL reduces planning time while ensuring teaching is curriculum-aligned and evidence-based. Our training and CPD opportunities also help non-subject specialists build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to deliver engaging, hands-on lessons that pupils genuinely enjoy. Most importantly, FFL helps teachers bring food education to life - supporting children to cook with confidence, understand healthy eating, and see the bigger picture of where food comes from and why it matters.
At the same time, FFL plays a vital role in addressing wider national priorities. By embedding practical cooking, healthy eating, and sustainability into everyday teaching, the programme contributes directly to public health goals, helps young people develop skills for life and work, and supports the sustainability agenda that is increasingly central to education and society. For teachers juggling many demands, FFL is not just a classroom resource - it is a practical partner in shaping healthier, more skilled and more resilient communities for the future.
Finally, look out for our new Food – a fact of life branding and an exciting new website coming in early 2026! Progression and moving forwards is as important to the Food – a fact of life team as it is to schools, teachers and pupils!
To find out more and join us on our journey of over 30 years, supporting teachers to equip their pupils with the knowledge, skills and confidence to eat healthier more sustainable diets and develop a lifelong love of good food, go to:
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