Vegie Month during March

THE Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is encouraging parents and early childhood education and care services (ECECs) to take on weekly challenges for Vegie Month through March.

Vegie Month aims to increase children’s vegetable intake by exposing them to a variety of vegetables in a fun way.

Following the success of last year’s campaign, educators said children were more willing to try familiar and unfamiliar vegetables.

Data from the 2022 National Health Survey showed that only one in 20 (4.6 per cent) children and adolescents under 17 meet the Australian Dietary Guideline (ADG) recommendations for daily vegetable intake.

It also revealed that fewer children met the daily recommendations than in 2017, and the number of children who do not usually eat vegetables tripled.

The ADG recommends four to five daily vegetable serves to ensure good nutrition and support growth and development.

NNSWLHD Director of Aboriginal Health, Oral Health and Health Promotion Kirsty Glanville said more than 40,500 children from 670 early childhood services participated in Vegie Month across NSW last year.

“Our local Health Promotion Team leads this health initiative,” Glanville said.

“Vegie Month is a fun way to engage children, educators and parents in small changes that can make a big difference.

“This year, we hope children get involved at home, too,” she said.

Games, experiments, songs, stories, art, discussions, and gardening bring vegetables to life, and each ECEC will receive a resource pack.

Weekly home challenges include asking children to help prepare vegetables, choosing one vegetable for a snack, and eating the rainbow to try different coloured vegetables.

Anyone with or without children can join and share weekly challenges on Sunday evenings through the NNSWLHD Facebook page.