A new activity booklet that aims to encourage children and their families to make healthier food choices and to be more active has been distributed to 1,750 youngsters across Lowestoft.

The new booklets have been created for primary school children in Lowestoft and the surrounding area.

Entitled Lowestoft Healthy Habits, the booklets have been handed out as part of a new project through the Lowestoft and northern parishes Community Partnership and Lowestoft Rising.

Lowestoft Journal: Pupils at Phoenix St Peter Academy with Sally Connick, National Literacy Trust and Phil Aves, Lowestoft Rising. Picture: Phoenix St Peter Academy­Pupils at Phoenix St Peter Academy with Sally Connick, National Literacy Trust and Phil Aves, Lowestoft Rising. Picture: Phoenix St Peter Academy­ (Image: Phoenix St Peter Academy­)

The Lowestoft Healthy Habits booklets have gone out to 1,750 students in Years 5 and 6 in all primary schools across Lowestoft, Pakefield, Carlton Colville, Oulton Broad and the surrounding villages.

The Lowestoft Healthy Habits activity booklets aim to help children make healthier choices leading to an overall improvement in their physical and mental health.

They contain contributions from the National Literacy Trust, Suffolk Mind, Active Suffolk and the Community Dental Service.

Schools have been provided with a lesson plan to help children learn more about healthy choices, and the children will also receive certificates for taking part in the activities.

Lowestoft Journal: Pupils in Year 6 at Blundeston CEVC Primary School with Cllr Paul Ashdown and Danny Steel, Lowestoft and northern parishes Community Partnership. Picture: East Suffolk Council Pupils in Year 6 at Blundeston CEVC Primary School with Cllr Paul Ashdown and Danny Steel, Lowestoft and northern parishes Community Partnership. Picture: East Suffolk Council (Image: East Suffolk Council)

Paul Ashdown, chair of the Lowestoft and northern parishes Community Partnership and East Suffolk councillor for the Lothingland ward, said: "One of the Community Partnership's priorities is to help young people to make healthier food choices, giving them the opportunity to develop healthy habits which will benefit their health and wellbeing now and as they get older.

"These new booklets provide a starting point for the children, and their families, to try some new recipes, challenges and activities."

Sally Connick, project manager at the National Literacy Trust, said: "Our contribution to this booklet informs families about our free story trails in the community and encourages children to find the book, comic or magazine that sparks their love of reading."

Earlier this year the Community Partnership, working with the Lowestoft Timebank, ran the ‘Pulsate’ project which promoted cooking with pulses to create affordable and nutritious family meals.

A Pulsate recipe is included in the Healthy Habits booklets.