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Hugh talked about his career, inspirations and views on school food whilst doing a ‘schools twist’ on one of his recipes from the River Cottage.

He roasted three vegetables including carrots, onions and new potatoes alongside chickpeas and hummus to make a quick, simple and healthy meal for schoolchildren. He said this dish goes well with a side of salad or rice and audience members had the opportunity to taste the dish.

During the cooking demonstration Hugh was assisted by the 2025 LACA Grab ‘N’ Go Challenge winner Andre Alto, who also had the opportunity to show off the winning dish of longganisa rice burger during his own demo session.

Hugh said: “How we feed our kids at school every day, especially primary school kids, is about as important as anything gets. It is absolutely a matter for Government policy and intervention. It is also one of the most amazing opportunities to transform the food culture of this country and the future health outcomes of the next generation.

“So I think LACA’s been absolutely right to announce alongside that we need more money on our school kids plates and we need it ringfenced. We need to be able to put together delicious and nutritious meals that will keep our kids well, keep them concentrated in class and help them to recognise what great healthy food looks like so that they can take that with them through the rest of their lives.

“If they know how to feed themselves well it gives them the resilience and hope to be able to look after themselves and further down the line their friends and their young families. It is absolutely priceless. The only place to do that is in schools. At school everyday we have the opportunity to put great food in front of kids, so we should take it. These recipes show that it doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Hugh informed audience members about Veg Power and their mission to get more children to eat more vegetables. Over the last few years their Eat Them to Defeat Them campaign has reached 1.8 million children.

Dan Parker, chief executive of Veg Power, highlighted an upcoming campaign in November 2025 that will focus on getting more beans and pulses into school meals within 750 schools over the next three years.