A PROGRAM aimed at promoting healthier eating options for children is set to be rolled out to more Ballarat schools following its introduction in the region last year.<\/p>\n
Having first launched at Mount Rowan Secondary College, the initiative is being expanded and will include outside school hours care.<\/p>\n
Alexandra Bell is one of two health promotion officers at Ballarat Community Health leading the program.<\/p>\n
She said the movement is about transforming school eating environments for the better.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn schools, VKEW is characterised by four actions,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got refresh the fridge, switch up the snacks, change up the menu, and put the fun into fundraising.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re what we call our big bites, and there made through breaking them down into small achievable steps and rewarding schools for doing that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter hours care is all new for us. There\u2019ll be the same four key actions with those smaller actions a little different.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started this small last year because it was a new movement and everyone was learning and ironing out any kinks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vic Kids Eat Well is delivered by Cancer Council in partnership with Nutrition Australia.<\/p>\n
The program\u2019s extended rollout was launched at Ballarat Community Health\u2019s Lucas site on Monday for school representatives to meet BCH\u2019s health promotion officers.<\/p>\n
Ms Bell said Ballarat Grammar is their second school taking part in the program with Forest Street Primary School and Our Lady Health of Christians Primary School among those registered.<\/p>\n
Mount Rowan\u2019s food tech and canteen assistant Chloe Hewitt said the community has seen change since adopting the program in June.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a very successful journey,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a big project we\u2019ve been tackling little bits at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started with the fridge and the removal of soft drinks for less sugary beverages. That was the main thing and adding more vegetables to our canteen items.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have our garden which we use in our food tech room and for the canteen so we try to be sustainable and seasonable to tie it into the curriculum.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been about educating students on why these changes have been happening and encouraging them just to eat better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A PROGRAM aimed at promoting healthier eating options for children is set to be rolled out to more Ballarat schools following its introduction in the region last year. Having first launched at Mount Rowan Secondary College, the initiative is being expanded and will include outside school hours care. Alexandra Bell is one of two health […]<\/p>\n