Don’t waste it – Taste it!

In five Pembrokeshire primary schools, a quiet revolution is taking place. Pupils are weighing food waste, asking big questions, and dreaming up bold solutions. They aren’t just learning about sustainability — they’re living it.

As part of Awel Aman Tawe’s We Are Food Warriors project, in collaboration with Energy Sparks, pupils took part in Take a Bite out of Food Waste to explore the carbon footprint of food and inspire action. What began as a classroom activity quickly grew into a movement of young changemakers.

With support from Jen, pupils investigated how far food travels before reaching their plates. They weighed food waste in their schools, mapped out what could be grown locally, and began to understand how everyday choices affect the planet.

“We didn’t know food had a carbon footprint,” said one pupil. “Now we want the school to buy local and eat food grown in Pembrokeshire!”

They met with local organisations — Bluestone, Cwmarian, Ffynnon Resilience, and Car y Môr — in an online conference that brought real-world sustainability into the classroom. Car y Môr, a regenerative seaweed farm, even visited the pupils in person, sparking excitement and curiosity.

“Pupils are food warriors keen to add seaweed to the school menu,” said one teacher, “and be seaweed entrepreneurs.”

But the learning didn’t stop there. Pupils got creative. They designed food logos using recycled materials, built miniature community gardens in a box, and imagined the future they wanted to see — one with less waste, more local produce, and fairer food systems.

They made films and posters. They ran assemblies. They asked staff where the school food came from and how it could be improved. They met online with the Future Generations Commissioner’s Office, sharing their learning and their hopes.

And then, they wrote letters to the council.

Pennar Community School said, “We want more say in choosing the menu for our school.”

Tenby Primary School wrote, “we have weighed our school waste and we are shocked. We live in a coastal town and if the sea levels rise, we could lose our harbour, our beaches and our homes. We need your help and the help of Jen of Awel Aman Tawe.”

Their requests were clear and powerful:

• Regular feedback to the council
• Food waste weighing in all Pembrokeshire schools
• More fruit and vegetables
• More local food
• Fair trade sourcing
• Support for community growing
• Less plastic packaging

These weren’t just ideas — they were action plans. Pupils were ready to lead.

“I’ve never seen my daughter so passionate,” said a parent. “She’s telling us what to buy, what to cook, and what to compost. She’s become our family’s food warrior.”

As the project wrapped up, the energy didn’t fade. Jen is now working with Planed and the Pembrokeshire Local Food Partnership to help even more pupils take action on food waste.

Because when children understand the impact of their choices — and are given the tools to change them — they don’t just learn. They lead.