IT\u2019S a challenge faced by many parents of young kids, how to get them eating more vegies.<\/p>\n
Now, as part of Children\u2019s and Natural Nutrition weeks, the Shire has launched a new book called The Super Veggie Four<\/em>.<\/p>\n With the aim of making vegetables exciting so children might be more willing to give them a try, the book features three kids who live in Golden Plains Shire, Tommy from Rokewood, Ava in Cape Clear and Charlie from Smythesdale.<\/p>\n Mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey, said the book was about setting healthy eating habits.<\/p>\n \u201cLike municipalities across Victoria, the majority of families and children in Golden Plains do not eat the recommended five serves of vegetables a day,\u201d he said. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cThis book is all about increasing vegetable consumption through changing children\u2019s perceptions by making it fun and enjoyable to eat their greens.\u201d<\/p>\n In the book Ava, Tommy and Charlie are helped on a journey to better eating by The Super Veggie Four, a superhero team made up of capsicum, carrot, corn and broccoli.<\/p>\n The book was launched in the Shire at the end of October and has been read to kids across the municipality and given to kindergartens and early childhood education centres.<\/p>\n The Super Veggie Four was collaboratively penned by council\u2019s Health and Wellbeing team, with technical writing assistance by Ballarat-based writer Jean Flynn and illustrations by Ballarat graphic designer Paul Mah.<\/p>\n \u201cThis book has been shaped by local families in our Shire, and it\u2019s fantastic to see that it has already been a hit with local kids over the past two weeks,\u201d Cr Sharkey said.<\/p>\n As part of the book the kids featured are encouraged to add vegetables to meals they cook with their parents.<\/p>\n At the back of the book there are the same recipes featured within the story are printed in full so kids can create what they have read about.<\/p>\n