It’s mid morning and the clatter of culinary equipment signifies that something tasty is being rustled up to eat.

At one end of the kitchen a group of children are breaking eggs into bowls and beating them. Waiting patiently for the butter to melt in their frying pans, they prepare for the first stage of the omelette-making process.

This well-orchestrated operation is taking place at Jamie’s Ministry of Food in John Street, Bradford. Since it opened in Bradford in 2009, more than 3,000 people have benefited from the healthy eating experience, whether learning to cook; expanding their knowledge or perfecting their culinary skills.

The purpose of this visit, by Year 4 pupils at Bowling Park Primary School, is to learn about healthy cooking – an initiative aimed at serving them well when it comes to creating a meal for parents and members of the community as part of restaurant-themed topic they are studying.

For today’s menu the children are focusing on preparing a healthy breakfast. Every stage is thoroughly explained by the Ministry of Food trainers who educate and encourage the youngsters throughout the morning session.

Slightly tipping the pan to one side, the trainer explains to them that the egg is still runny so the omelette isn’t quite ready. Those whose omelettes are sufficiently cooked take a small bowl of grated cheese from the worktop and delicately drop it around the omelette.

A few more moments and the children’s creations are arranged on plates for them all to tuck in. While they sit down and enjoy sampling what they have made, another group of pupils are gathered around a food processor where Bradford’s Ministry of Food manager Soraya Overend is demonstrating how to make a smoothie.

Bananas, blueberries, and raspberries are drizzled with honey, apple juice and yoghurt before being whizzed around in the blender, ready to be served into glasses for the youngsters.

With breakfast regarded as the most important meal of the day, it is the focus for this educational session.

“There is a lot of evidence which shows a lot of children are not getting a healthy breakfast before they go to school. It affects their ability to concentrate and they are prone to eating more unhealthy food because they have not had a substantial breakfast,” says Lisa McLoughlin, a food officer with Jamie’s Ministry of Food in Bradford.

“It is teaching them skills; how to use fresh ingredients to prepare something using basic ingredients. It is something that will fill them up and it will create slow-releasing energy during the morning.”

Educating pupils and organisations is just part of the service Jamie’s Ministry of Food provides in the district. Lisa says they are keen to educate the wider community, too.

“Obviously everybody needs to eat and if you can cook you are much more in control of the choices you make in terms of your diet,” she says.

“If you can’t cook it means you will have to rely on convenience food. If you know how to cook it widens it so much, if you can put a meal together you will be healthier and save money.”

Bowling Park Primary’s Year 4 teacher Ben Whitehall says the youngsters also learned about the “eating well plate” focusing on food, digestion and teeth. The financial element of food buying and planning formed part of their maths studies.

The youngsters also visited a restaurant to learn about food preparation, cooking and serving operation and were able to learn skills through their three visits to the Ministry of Food this week which they will put to use creating meals for parents and other members of their community.

Teaching assistant Belinda Birch says: “It’s nice to involve parents as well so the children can show them what they have learned about healthy eating.

“It teaches them about healthy eating, which is important, and having a balanced diet, but also the business side of it. It shows them what they may like to do in the future and gives them ideas about careers.”

For more about Jamie’s Ministry of Food, call (01274) 435279.