Viridian book set to inspire younger generation

Released as part of Viridian’s Nutrition’s 25th anniversary celebrations, founder Cheryl Thallon has published a new kids’ book, free copies of which will be sent to health stores to share with their communities.

Written by Thallon and illustrated by Charlie Tomkins, the colourful 36-page book is aimed at three to seven-year-olds, and places health stores ‘at the heart of health and happiness’, with the storyline centring around a family of raccoons as they embark upon their journey to better health. 

In My Mum Ran a 5K, the raccoons’ lives are changed when they discover ‘the abundance of health-giving foods, products, services and advice’ available from their local indie health retailer. 

The brand says the aim of the book is to ‘instil positive lifestyle habits early in childhood, with the younger generation becoming the inspiration for their parents, as well as introducing children to the concept of health stores’. 

“The narrator is five-year-old Skye who is desperate to get away from the TV and have fun with mum – but she’s always too tired,” explains Thallon, who herself has completed both a Couch to 5K and the 5K leg of the Daventry Triathlon. 

“My Mum Ran a 5K is written to help families make a lasting connection between food, movement and long-term happiness. The hero of the story is Skye, but for me the absolute hero of the story is the health food store. In the centre pages you walk into the … store, you meet the staff and see how the kind lady in the shop helps them make better choices.” 

The book is part of Thallon’s mission to encourage early adoption of positive lifestyle changes. “The big question to my mind has been ‘What kind of 60-year-old do you want to be?’. Well, the habits we have today are direct predictors of the health we will experience in the years ahead. Obesity, heart disease [and] diabetes type 2 are 21st century illnesses and are largely lifestyle related. The good news is that often they can be reversed with lifestyle changes. Children that adopt good habits early on can go on to be healthy 60-year-olds.”

Proactive approach

“If we love the NHS, then we must start and continue to love ourselves, making the decision to care for our own health so we can free up hospital beds for those less fortunate than ourselves.”

By Rosie Greenaway, editor