Students learn how to make chutney to sell on Market Day
Through our Schools to Market programme, students learn how to make simple and tasty chutney recipes, which they go on to sell at local markets. The session is hosted at secondary schools and attended by local primary school children to encourage a creative and fun day of interaction between age groups.
School Food Matters Expert Food Teacher, Sharon, starts each chutney making session with a discussion about chutney and why it is the perfect recipe to prepare any time of the year.
Sharon explains: “We focus on chutney because it is easy to make, low in sugars, and can be made from a variety of fruits or vegetables.”
Chutney is also a healthy alternative to jam because it’s made with a lot less sugar. Chutney can also be made with many types of fruits and vegetables, making it a great recipe to use seasonal produce all year round.
Sharon discusses cooking utensils and techniques with the students and explains how to take accurate measurements. When explaining the cooking process, Sharon asks the students questions about fermentation and preservation, and shows them how to sterilise jars and properly seal them to preserve the chutney and keep it fresh.
When it is time to cook, a few secondary students partner with groups of primary children and take over cooking stations.
Students work together to make their chutney by chopping vegetables and fruit, measuring ingredients, boiling the mixture and pouring the fresh chutney into jars.
Then, Sharon gives students a chance to get creative by making their own chutney jar labels. This is a moment for students to learn about what types of information should be included on a food label and why.
"I think it's important we have a copy of our recipe on our stall so that people can see how much of each ingredient we've included. So, if a shop is selling something with lots of sugar in it, people who can't eat that much sugar because it will make them poorly, will know they shouldn't buy it."
Student, Avonmore Primary School
After the chutney making workshop, students will continue the Schools to Market Programme by:
- embarking on a vegetable growing workshop
- visiting a Whole Foods store to learn about food marketing
- taking a trip to a farm to harvest produce
- using their fresh farm produce to make delicious chutney jars for Market Day
- selling chutney at their local Market Day sale
Learn more about our Schools to Market Programme here.