INNOVATIVE ideas on nutrition and dietary needs generated by pupils from Watford Grammar School for Boys formed an integral part of a new healthy eating initiative organised by a local supermarket this week.

Pupils at the school in Rickmansworth Road, Watford, were approached by food giants, Sainsburys, at the Dome Roundabout in Garston earlier this year with regards to generating new and exciting ideas to raise awareness of a recently launched product range aimed at children of primary school age.

The Blue Parrot Cafe is a relatively new product range endorsed by TV chef Jamie Oliver and designed and constructed to provide children with a number of healthy and nutritious dietary options.

Year nine pupils were set the task of promoting the range in an interesting and exciting way that would appeal to children between the ages of five and 11 in the local community, as part of their annual business day, co-ordinated by the school.

Pupils' innovative ideas and business strategies were brought to life this week as Sainsburys held it's Blue Parrot Cafe Safari competition.

The competition, designed in the main by participating pupils, has seen children as young as five and six trekking through the store on the look out for hidden parrots. All children were given an entry form on which they listed their name, age, address and the exact location of each parrot. These are then posted in an entry box at the customer service desk.

A spokesman from Sainsburys promotions department said: "The boys had to consider the costs involved, including promotion of the competition and prizes.

"We felt it was important that rather than just having a one day project, they could be involved in seeing their idea actually come to life over a period of weeks and months."

Any young pupils still keen to take part in the Blue Parrot Safari can do so at the shopping centre where it will remain in operation up to tomorrow (Saturday).

Pupils of Watford Grammar School for Boys will pull the winning entries from the competition box in the store next month. They are then to make a special presentation to the first prize winner who will receive a VIP family trip to London Zoo where they will be invited to venture behind the scenes, working with the Parrot House Keeper.

Ten runners-up will receive Blue Parrot Cafe hampers, donated by the store.

October 30, 2001 15:30