Children have been cooking up a treat in their Easter holidays at pop up food courses.

For the second consecutive year 36 children took part in the ‘Let’s Cook’ project at Tesco’s Gallions Reach store, where pupils were given the opportunity to produce healthy, tasty meals ranging from spaghetti bolognese to fruit kebabs.

Run by Tesco and the Children’s Food Trust, the workshops were designed to encourage children to learn more about healthy eating and keep them occupied during the Easter holidays.

Tesco director Josh Hardie said: “We hope these courses make a real difference helping the next generation lead healthier lives.” The launch of the courses in 2014 came with research carried out across the London area stating that three quarters of parents were worried that their children are growing up without basic cooking skills and food knowledge.

Linda Cregan, CEO of the Children’s Food Trust, stressed the importance of these workshops on children’s lives.

“Teaching children to cook is just as important as teaching them to read and write, having the skills and confidence to make healthy meals from scratch is a skill that sets children up for life.”