How Aussie kids eat well

We’re working with some incredible organisations in Australia for the Jamie Oliver Food Hero Awards – one of which is Vic Kids Eat Well, based in Victoria. 

Vic Kids Eat Well focuses on transforming food and drink environments in community organisations where kids spend time, with canteens, lunch orders, events and fundraising all being enhanced. Options like chicken pasta bake with veggies, baked potatoes with delicious toppings, veggie topped pizzas and colourful chopped fruit cups are just some of the winners with kids.

One of our expert panellists, Laura Paulsen – a public health nutritionist and Healthy Communities Manager at Cancer Council Victoria – provides leadership to Vic Kids Eat Well and the Achievement Program, initiatives that prioritise nutritious food and wellbeing for kids. She tells us a bit more about the great work they do. 

Laura says…

“Imagine if we could inspire kids to love nutritious and tasty food during their school years. Better still, what if we could transform the food and drinks provided to kids, in places like the canteen, through simple ‘bite-sized’ actions. This would mean they’re surrounded by nutritious options when they’re learning, playing and being active.

The good news is we can make it happen – and over 1,000 community organisations, like schools and sports clubs, prove exactly that. They’re all part of the Vic Kids Eat Well movement, which kids love, parents want, and principals and sports club presidents need! 

Vic Kids Eat Well’s four actions involve: refreshing the fridge, switching up the snacks, changing the menu, and putting the ‘fun’ into fundraising and marketing.

Harnessing the power of community, the Vic Kids Eat Well initiative connects organisations with local health promotion professionals to support them on their journey as they boost deliciously healthy food and drink options for kids in their community. It also provides fantastic resources and rewards like vouchers.

From composting activities, garden-to-plate sessions, student-led canteens and healthy smoothie fundraisers, kids are experiencing healthy and delicious food and drinks through exciting and fun activities.

Here are just some examples of schools, outside school hours care services (OSHC) and sports clubs that have joined the movement and made tremendous progress to give kids the healthy start they deserve.

Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre

Here, kids are empowered to create their own nutritious, delicious meals. Through the Vic Kids Eat Well initiative, the centre focuses on healthy cooking activities and offers a great range of food and drink options. Each day, kids at the centre can choose ingredients and be involved in preparing healthy meals while supported by an educator. Their new menu has featured chicken and vegetable curry, baked wholemeal pasta and a zucchini slice.

Childrens’ Services Coordinator, Kristy Tucker said, “The kids all help each other prepare the meals and everyone is welcome to participate or sit out. It’s why they’re more likely to try new foods, because they’ve prepared them and tasted them together with their friends.”

Campbellfield Heights Primary School (pictured above)

Community is at the heart of Campbellfield Heights. The school focuses on ensuring their canteen supports families by opening their doors on Mondays and Fridays to help families with lunches at the start and end of the week.

The school offers healthier meal options, such as fresh salad wraps, baked chicken burgers and shredded chicken salad with crunchy lettuce. Students also have access to free fruit.

“We see our canteen as an opportunity for students to access delicious, healthy food and drink options, so they can eat and feel well at school while they’re enjoying learning and playing,” school principal Mrs Susie Bellizia said.

Boisdale Consolidated School

As a country school in a strong farming community, students at Boisdale already understood where food comes from. The next step was to reinforce the idea that real food tastes amazing.

By progressing through Vic Kids Eat Well’s actions, the school’s canteen added freshly prepared meals to the menu and encouraged students to bring a reusable drink bottle from home to refill with water.

The canteen subcommittee said, “Our canteen now only serves what parents want their kids to eat. Fresh fruits and vegetables, salads and meats, baked goods made from scratch, hidden-veg pastries, rice paper rolls and home cooked weekly specials send wonderful aromas around the school. Taps and water bubblers are freely available and sugary drinks are off the menu.”

Castlemaine Goldfields Footy Club

Footy is not the only standout at Castlemaine Footy Club. They’ve given fruits and veggies the chance to shine too! The club has made several changes through Vic Kids Eat Well, including adding healthier snacks such as popcorn, sultanas and muesli bars.

The club also makes a weekly vegetarian soup that is served with wholemeal bread as part of their efforts to boost healthy food and drink options to fuel their active kids.

“We’re seeing a lot of active, social and happy kids,” club committee member Ms Kasey Sparks said. 

Learn more about the movement

These are just a few of the exciting things happening in the Vic Kids Eat Well community. We get to hear amazing stories from passionate community members every day. Visit Vic Kids Eat Well to find out more.

Vic Kids Eat Well is supported by the Victorian Government and is delivered by Cancer Council Victoria, in partnership with the National Nutrition Foundation.