Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk and Spinneyshave announced an initiative to mark the nation’s Golden Jubilee with a health and wellness campaign for UAE schools. The first ever Veg Pledge invites schoolchildren to create their own super nutritious lunch with local produce grown in the UAE.
With fresh ingredients sponsored by Spinneys, the partnership brings together the hotel’s Executive Chef, Russell Impiazzi, and Spinneys’ Farm to Table programme with groups of 50 children from eight different schools, to help create flavourful and nutritious lunches. The 400 budding chefs, aged seven to nine, will learn how to turn healthy home-grown veggies into delicious meals.
Designed to be enjoyable and educational, the farm-to-table experience will promote healthy eating habits to the UAE’s future generation, giving them opportunities to discover local ingredients and learn easy recipes and fun facts.
From the history of hummus to the benefits of beetroot, every aspect of the Veg Pledge experience is designed to be engaging and highlight the importance of a balanced diet and nutritional awareness.
The main activity is the Sandwich Smash, which gives children a chance to construct a super fresh lunch with soft whole-wheat rolls and a multitude of colourful ingredients. The kids are also invited to make a light-hearted pledge to make healthy food choices with a fun promise written by Chef Russell himself.
I will pledge to eat my veg,
I will not be mean to anything green,
I will do my best to eat the rest,
Fruits and veg you are the best!
Speaking about the initiative, Chef Russell said “It’s very important that we connect children with fresh ingredients in the most fun and engaging way we can, and what better way than taking the Veg Pledge with them! As the restaurant world evolves now, and even more so in the future with more plant-centric menus and the emphasis on a sustainable future, it’s crucial that we start teaching our children, who are very much our future guests, the vital role a positive change in our lifestyles and the food variety that we eat has on our health and the future of our planet. It’s something we are focusing on here at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk and making sure our young diners menus connect with both parents and children.”
Chef Russell is no stranger to community projects, having partnered with the Dubai Food Bank during Ramadan. In 2014 he co-launched The Pink Brigade, raising awareness and support for those affected by breast cancer. He also worked with a London hotel for the #FeedThoseInNeed campaign, which extended to a non-profit partnership to help feed those in need during the 2020 pandemic.
The Veg Pledge begins on 21st November 2021 at participating schools. To sample Russell Impiazzi’s cuisine, he oversees all culinary activity at five distinctive dining outlets within Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk: Brasserie Boulud, Taiko Dubai, The Nine Gastropub, Bijou Patisserie and Soleil Pool & Lounge –as well as the banqueting facilities.
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