WA students fighting obesity
Nicola Roxon
posted Sunday, 1 August 2010
Students at Perth’s Belmont Primary School are learning to grow, harvest, cook and share fresh food by participating in the Federal Labor Government’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program.
The aim of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program is for children to work in a productive garden at their school, harvest the food and cook it in a purpose-built teaching kitchen, before sitting down together to taste and enjoy what they have made.
Children learn best by getting involved and through positive examples. By teaching our kids about growing, preparing and sharing healthy food, this program aims to develop life-long healthy eating habits.
The students were visited today by the Health Minister Nicola Roxon, who congratulated them on the establishment of a thriving vegetable patch.
“This magnificent garden is a testament to the hard work of the students, teachers and parents of Belmont Primary.
“I am sure that everyone is looking forward to turning this beautiful produce into delicious, healthy meals,” Ms Roxon said.
The Gillard Labor Government has provided $12.8 million to implement the Program in up to 190 schools across the country. Funding for this program is included in the Budget.
Sixteen schools in Western Australia have already received grants of up to $60,000 for kitchen and garden infrastructure.
The fight against the obesity epidemic starts with our children – and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is an innovative and practical way of getting children involved and developing healthy habits for life.
Tags: Australia, health, obesity, Western