Kindy kids getting healthy with Karla

Champion ironwoman Karla Gilbert is bringing her healthy recipes to a Gold Coast childcare provider and she promises even fussy kids will love them.

IN a move to improve children’s nutrition, ironwoman Karla Gilbert has partnered with childcare provider G8 Education to produce a new range of healthy meal options for its preschoolers.

The seven-time ironwoman champion, health coach and mother of two said it was vital to ensure health eating habits were formed at an early age.

Karla Gilbert with 4 year olds (L-R) Katie Ross, Omari Mapako, Pyper Lavaring, Jaxon Miller at Kool Kids Nerang. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

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“Children form lifelong eating habits based on the kinds of foods offered to them from a young age, and by tapping into this important time of their lives we can have a real impact,” Ms Gilbert said.

The launch of the new menu follows an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report which revealed 94 per cent of children are not eating the recommended two daily serves of fruit and five vegetables.

Children at G8 Education’s 10 Kool Kids centres across the Gold and Tweed Coasts will get to try the new menus, which include items such as bliss balls, vanilla chia puddings, sushi bowls and fruit smoothies, from January next year.

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Ms Gilbert said persistence was the key to “fussy eaters,” and to not have any negative connotations around eating healthy food.

“It can take up to 20 exposures of a particular food before it makes it into a child’s food repertoire so even if they reject a classic example such as broccoli the first time, parents should persist,” she said.

“(They should) share the message that healthy food nourishes our bodies and enables us to get the most out of the day.”

Families enrolled at Kool Kids early education centres will also receive exclusive invitations to attend cooking workshops with Ms Gilbert, plus healthy recipes to recreate at home.

Karla Gilbert with 4 year olds (L-R) Katie Ross, Omari Mapako, Pyper Lavaring, Jaxon Miller at Kool Kids Nerang. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

G8 Education chief executive officer Gary Carroll said laying the foundations for healthy eating was a key component of the programming and service they provided families.

“Healthy children are happy children and we have an important role to play in ensuring they are fuelling their bodies with the right foods,” he said.

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“Our partnership with Karla highlights our commitment to delivering healthy and tasty meals to our children, while supporting families to educate their children about healthy food and nutrition.”