Kids eating well at local schools

NINETEEN of Ballarat’s schools and community groups have taken up the opportunity to participate in the Vic Kids Eat Well program.

The initiative of Cancer Council Victoria and Nutrition Australia aims to increase the healthy food and drink options accessible to young people.

Ballarat Community Health and City of Ballarat officers have helped organisations review their food offerings, and if needs be, swap healthier options, including more vegetables.

There’s also a push to promote the importance of drinking water.

Ballarat Grammar’s deputy head of senior school Sandra Warwick said students have lots of healthy options at the canteen, and 90 per cent of what’s on sale includes veggies.

On the menu are items like breakfast frittata, vegetarian salads and rolls, sushi, frozen and Greek yoghurt, and sparkling mineral water.

“The number of students, and even staff, purchasing meals from our canteen has increased significantly since we made improvements through Vic Kids Eat Well,” she said.

“This talks to the appetite we have for delicious and colourful meals and snacks that make us feel good.”

BCH’s health promotion officer Alexandra Bell said she encourages other Ballarat groups to take part in Vic Kids Eat Well, which is free.

“Over 4000 local kids have already benefited from refreshed menus or healthier environments as part of Vic Kids Eat Well and the Achievement Program,” she said.

“Best of all, the community leaders we support are telling us that Ballarat kids are enjoying the improvements.

“It’s uplifting to know we’re giving kids a healthy start, with things like veggie-loaded meals in schools and kids picking produce from their school garden and preparing crunchy and colourful snacks at outside school hours care.

“One of the great things about Vic Kids Eat Well is that schools, outside school hours care services and other community organisations can decide when and how they want to work through the bite-sized actions with on-the-ground health promotion support.

“If an organisation doesn’t have a canteen, fundraising is a great starting point.”

Mrs Warwick said the Ballarat Grammar canteen has ongoing support from project officers.

“Through the achievement program, we’ve had a broad long-term approach to wellbeing,” she said. “To refresh our canteen with simple tips, Vic Kids Eat Well slotted in perfectly.”

Cancer Council Victoria head of healthy places Dimity Gannon congratulated the 19 organisations in the area who have made progress.

“Bite-sized changes… have a positive impact on the health of local kids,” she said.

“Delicious, nourishing food helps fuel kids’ concentration, improves mood and gives them the energy to have a great day at school or enjoy all the benefits of community sport.”

Vic Kids Eat Well is supported by the State Government.