Healthy heroes here to help

IT’S a challenge faced by many parents of young kids, how to get them eating more vegies.

Now, as part of Children’s and Natural Nutrition weeks, the Shire has launched a new book called The Super Veggie Four.

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.

Mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey, said the book was about setting healthy eating habits.

“Like municipalities across Victoria, the majority of families and children in Golden Plains do not eat the recommended five serves of vegetables a day,” he said. “

“This book is all about increasing vegetable consumption through changing children’s perceptions by making it fun and enjoyable to eat their greens.”

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.

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.

The Super Veggie Four was collaboratively penned by council’s Health and Wellbeing team, with technical writing assistance by Ballarat-based writer Jean Flynn and illustrations by Ballarat graphic designer Paul Mah.

“This book has been shaped by local families in our Shire, and it’s fantastic to see that it has already been a hit with local kids over the past two weeks,” Cr Sharkey said.

As part of the book the kids featured are encouraged to add vegetables to meals they cook with their parents.

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.

“The Super Veggie Four is a fun read for children, and also gives families valuable tips and advice, such as not giving up if a child does not like a vegetable the first time they try it.”

The book is currently being distributed to kindergartens and pre-schools across Golden Plains and the Shire is looking at options to make retail copies available for purchase.