Push for rise in greens intake working in state’s primary schools

With less than 5 per cent of kids eating enough vegetables, Queensland schools are jumping on healthy bandwagon.

With less than 5 per cent of children eating the recommended amount of vegetables, southeast Queensland schools have jumped on the healthy food bandwagon with a new nutrition program.

Health education charity Life Education Queensland created the Healthy Eats program in response to the shockingly low number of children getting enough greens.

Piloted in north Queensland, the program has now expanded to primary schools in Logan, Ipswich and the Gold Coast, with Eagleby State School, Ipswich East, Riverview and Gaven Primary all getting involved.

Growing their own vegetable gardens plays a big role in attracting the pupils to a healthier lifestyle.

Life Education Queensland chief executive Michael Fawsitt said Healthy Eats aimed to engage the whole school community including parents, teachers and students to influence healthier food and drink choices.

Ipswich East State School Year 5 students Alicia Kusu, Pelenise Mana’o and Jaxyn Miabox are loving taking part in the Life Education Queensland Healthy Eats program.

“We launched Healthy Eats three years ago in 20 north Queensland schools, with funding from the Northern Queensland Primary Health Netword and the results were amazing. 100 per cent of participating schools said Healthy Eats had made a positive difference and 80 per cent of schools reported a significant improvement in fruit and vegetable consumption,” he said.

“We are aiming to have a similar impact in southeast Queensland schools, and we’re seeking support from the Queensland Government to ensure it continues to grow.”

Healthy Eats includes a raft of school and home-based activities including an engaging hands-on classroom nutrition workshop delivered to Year 5s that gets all students creating and trying new foods in a fun and positive food environment.

The program also supports schools to implement breakfast programs, brain food breaks, intra-school competitions, recipe ideas, teacher lesson plans, support for tuckshops to become Smart Choices compliant, student leadership opportunities, and tips to get the school vegetable garden thriving with backing from Bunnings.

Ipswich East State School is one of the first schools in the southeast adopting the program.

“Eating healthy food actually helps your hair grow and it means our bodies have less chance of suffering illness and disease,” Year 5 student Jaxyn Miabox said.