Well-Being Of School Staff ‘Dramatically Improving’ Through Plant-Based Eating And Mindfulness Program

The health and well-being of school staff is ‘dramatically improving’ through a plant-based eating and mindfulness program.

Founded by Sam Hart and partner Julia Hernandez Buckley last year, TeachStrong helps teachers and teaching assistants by ‘looking at how and what they eat, how much they move, and the connections they make with themselves and others’.

‘Simple and sustainable tips’

The company, based in Birmingham, England, claims those who work in schools are putting their mental and physical health in jeopardy – due to increased workload and accountability in the profession.

“Of course the demands of this job need addressing but in the meantime, we want to provide ‘simple and sustainable’ tips to help staff take control of their lives,” said Hart.

“We have seen already that this will result in staff feeling more positive, productive and passionate.”

Empowering staff

TeachStrong has developed a three-month course named Termly Transformation Program – an ‘essential for any school who want their staff to feel happier and healthier’.

“The program aims to empower staff with all the tools they need to feel better,” said Hart.

“This includes; plant-based recipes, short effective workouts, quick but powerful inner well-being exercises (such as mindfulness meditation and self-development), tips to improve sleep, and finally, ways to increase the impact of their community.”

Hernandez Buckley added: “We know these simple changes can make a difference. We also know it shouldn’t be time-consuming or expensive to feel great and so we have designed the program to fit neatly around the routine of school.”

‘I have learned a lot’

Miss Ashcroft, a teacher who has taken part in the Termly Transformation Program, said: “TeachStrong helped me to see how certain foods fuel our bodies better than others to give us more energy – particularly useful as a teacher who dips in energy around 1.30pm! I now make healthier choices and exercise more.

“I have learned a lot and the changes I have made have already had a real impact on how I feel day today, thanks to the TeachStrong tips, advice and recipes.”

* This article was updated on May 30 to include photos supplied by TeachStrong