Chef gives pupils a taste test (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Chef gives pupils a taste test

Chef Peter Vaughan (16383/5)TV chef Peter Vaughan introduced pre-schoolers at Cedar House Nursery School in Devizes to the delights of healthy eating at a presentation last Friday.

The chef, who hosts healthy cookery programmes on cable television and appears regularly on HTV, said: "For me cooking is about working with the seasons and using five senses."

He brought along Wiltshire strawberries, raspberries and freshly baked loaves of bread with butter for the children to sample.

Nursery manager Anne Hosburn said: "It was brilliant. Peter taught the children to use all of their senses, including hearing, smell, sight and touch as well as taste.

"The children were amazed you could actually hear the difference between cold bread and warm bread, which squeaks when you break or bite it.

"With strawberries and raspberries he got the children to close their eyes and notice the difference between raspberries and strawberries.

"He talked about the sounds that different vegetables like carrots make, and also about the importance of healthy eating.

"Peter was absolutely brilliant with the children. He really came down to their level."

After talking to the children Mr Vaughan presented the London Road nursery with an Investors in Children quality award from the Effective Early Learning Programme. The nursery earned the award, which was given by the Centre of Research in Early Childhood at University College, Worcester, earlier this year.