Children must be taught to grow and cook fresh ingredients from scratch as an "integral part" of the school curriculum, the Duchess of Cornwall has said, as she acknowledges the hobbies now face competition from "iPods and YouTube".
The Duchess, whose son Tom Parker Bowles is a professional food writer, said she wanted to “instill an excitement” in children about learning to cook and tasting British food.
She added knowing about food could be a “real advantage” for young people, even the traditional skills now had to “compete with iPods and YouTube”.
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13 Oct 2013Commenting in the latest edition of Country Life magazine, guest edited by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess made the case for British ingredients.
She added it was “tremendously” important for children to know how to grow food and could, arguing it should be an “integral part of their school education”.
In comments made alongside an article on the Harvest Festival, the Duchess also described her favourite British foods: free-range chicken, “spanking” fresh mackerel and “pert and perfect” asparagus.
“It is tremendously important to teach young people how to grow food and to cook as an integral part of their school education,” she told a special edition of Country Life magazine.
“And also to instill in them an excitement and love for the wonderfully diverse and delicious food we produce in this country.”
Speaking in support of British Food Fortnight, she added: “Learning to grow and cook your own food can be a real advantage, even if it has to compete with iPods and YouTube!
“I’m so delighted the British Food Fortnight competition has given children the chance to experience the joys of digging up potatoes they have grown themselves, picking runner beans and finding exciting recipes to cook.”
The Duchess has previously said teaching children to cook properly would ensure “our future is in safe hands”.
The Prince of Wales, who guest edited the magazine on the eve of his 65th birthday, used its pages to criticise large supermarkets for putting the “squeeze” on “battered” farmed by driving down prices.
His support for British farmers was echoed by the Duchess, who spoke out in favour of home-grown British ingredients.
“I’ve always loved food and really enjoy cooking simple dishes with the best British ingredients,” she said.
“That, for me, is what British food is really about; a chicken, that has lived a natural life, pecking and scratching about in the yard, roasted until golden brown.
“Or a spanking fresh mackerel, grilled until the skin is crisp, the flesh soft and sweet.
“The first British asparagus, pert and perfect, or a proper Somerset Cheddar, made with unpasteurised milk from the farmer’s own hand
“Food that follows the seasons, rather than the whims of the vast multinational food conglomerates.”
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