At Independents by Sodexo, we’re passionate about food education and working with our partners to help pupils build positive relationships with food and develop healthy habits that support their wellbeing. It’s not just about eating well at school, but about building habits that can support pupils throughout their lives.
As part of our evolving nutrition education programme, our Registered Associate Nutritionist, Sophie Wallis (ANutr), works closely with partner independent schools to deliver engaging, practical workshops that make nutrition simple, accessible and relevant to everyday life.
Sophie is passionate about turning evidence-based guidance into engaging sessions that pupils can relate to and put into practice. Her expertise spans nutrition education, plant-based eating and sports nutrition.
Recently, Sophie was busy visiting schools across the South East, delivering a series of interactive workshops covering everything from healthy snacking and fuelling busy days to building healthy habits and making food choices that support focus and wellbeing. Here’s a look at some of the sessions she’s delivered.
Fuelling busy lives at King’s School, Rochester
At King’s School, Rochester, Sophie spoke with boarders about the importance of healthy snacks, particularly during busy periods of exams and revision. The session explored how making nutritious choices can help pupils stay fuelled and stay energised throughout the day.
Pupils also got hands-on with a simple hummus recipe. They were surprised by how few ingredients were needed to create a nutritious snack, while learning more about the benefits of the ingredients they were using.
The session continued with an exploration of different cottage cheese toppings, encouraging pupils to think creatively about how simple ingredients can be combined to create tasty, nutritious snacks.
Putting protein in the spotlight at Emanuel School
At Emanuel School, Sophie returned with a second run of the popular “Protein Pitstop” workshop, giving pupils another opportunity to explore the role protein can play as part of a balanced diet.
The school also welcomed the “Food for Focus” stand, designed to encourage pupils to think about how their food choices can support concentration and energy throughout the school day.
Both activities were met with enthusiasm from pupils and teachers, creating plenty of interest and excitement around lunchtime choices and the role food can play in supporting busy school days.
Building healthy habits at Sevenoaks School
At Sevenoaks School, Sophie worked with Year 8 pupils on the foundations of healthy habits. The workshop explored a range of topics relevant to everyday life, from choosing healthy snacks and understanding caffeine intake to recognising the importance of getting enough sleep.
The interactive session encouraged pupils to ask questions and share their thoughts, with some particularly thoughtful questions coming at the end. The discussions highlighted the value in giving pupils the opportunity to explore nutrition in an open and accessible way.
Making nutrition education practical and engaging
From preparing simple snacks to exploring protein, focus, caffeine and sleep, these workshops offer an open and practical approach to nutrition education that can be brought into the school environment in ways that are meaningful to pupils.
Rather than simply talking about healthy eating, the sessions give pupils opportunities to explore food, ask questions and discover how everyday choices can support their energy, concentration and overall wellbeing.
By creating positive experiences around food and wellbeing, Independents by Sodexo’s nutrition education programme helps pupils develop the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices that can support them both at school and beyond.
A huge thank you to the catering teams at King’s School, Rochester, Emanuel School and Sevenoaks School for their support in making these workshops possible. Thanks also to all the pupils and teachers who took part so enthusiastically.
We look forward to continuing to work with independent schools across the South East, inspiring more pupils to discover small, practical changes that can make a positive difference to their health and wellbeing.