Pancakes help Ledbury toddlers Change4Life

Children and toddlers in Ledbury are changing the way they celebrate Shrove Tuesday (February 16) by taking on board top tips from Change4Life and getting creative with their pancakes.

As well as experimenting with healthy pancake fillings, Herefordshire Council’s children’s centre in Ledbury and Ledbury Primary school have joined forces to plan an energetic day which will encourage families and children to make healthy choices and get active. 

Pancake races will be a major feature of the day and to add a twist, those taking part will wear pictures of their chosen fruit filling fixed to their hats.  As well as getting physically active, they will be learning about how much fun you can have making small changes in your life and swapping unhealthy ingredients for healthy ones.

Children at Ledbury Primary School have been designing healthy pancake filling posters encouraging their friends and families to experiment with oats, fruit fillings, natural sugars, buckwheat flour, nuts and berries.

“We had so much fun last year trying out new recipes and getting active that families have asked us for more,” said Kim Gristy, centre manager.  She continued: “This is a great way to promote Change4Life as you can experiment with healthier ingredients and get active too whilst having fun.  Parent feedback from last year told us that many children were still enjoying new fruits and foods introduced at our pancake day last year: things they wouldn’t even try before at home.

“This fun day supports the Change4Life programme and is one of many events that we are planning to hold over the next year to support children and promote healthier lifestyles.”

The day’s events will begin at 9.15am at the children’s centre with pancake races with fruity filling Velcro hats for parents, children and Busy Bees Pre-school toddlers.  Julie Duckworth, head teacher at Ledbury Primary school will be put through her paces at 11am when the school has a huge pancake running competition.