A school cook who goes the “extra mile” for pupils and the wider community has won a top award.
Anjya Fuglestad is cook in charge at Croy Primary in Inverness, and has rolled out a number of initiatives to get kids eating healthily.
Now she has been named employee of the year at the Scottish Food Awards.
Ms Fuglestad is well-liked for her passion to provide pupils with healthy, fun and creative meals – which has encouraged many of them to try new things.
The youngsters also enjoy growing produce in the garden she has created, and learning healthy recipes in the cooking lessons she has rolled out.
‘An honour’
Ms Fuglestad – who is part of the Food for Life Ambassadors programme – was thrilled to pick up the award, and said: “I have worked really hard to accomplish our growing garden and the cooking lessons.
“To win the employee of the year, I was filled with pride and I felt such an honour to win. It was so lovely to see all our hard work being recognised.”
Head teacher Matine Kelly said: “Anja’s creations are always very well received and have inspired pupils to try food they wouldn’t normally have chosen to taste.
“The pupil experience is at its best when the catering team and school staff work in unison. Anja has been the catalyst for this at Croy, regularly finding ways to integrate the two services to benefit the school community.
“When we have a school-wide event, Anja goes the extra mile to find ways to support us and be fully involved in the life and school of community.”
Some of the cook’s recipes incorporating fruit and vegetables will now be rolled out to other schools in the Highlands.
Conversation