Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is encouraging kids in local public primary schools to learn to grow, harvest, cook and share fresh food.

It’s called The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program – the Federal Government’s new initiative to improve nutrition and healthy eating. (Stephanie Alexander is one of Australia’s top chefs.)

The Northern Rivers region’s Federal MP, Janelle Saffin, is encouraging local primary schools to submit expressions of interest to be part of it.

The Principal of local primary school Blakebrook Public, Mrs Sherry Fletcher, has welcomed the program.

“We have our own extensive garden maintained by the kids on the school grounds, complete with a veggie patch – keeping the kids busy and active in a kind of outdoor classroom,” she says.

“We also promote healthy eating through our ‘green’ canteen – no lollies or chips or softdrinks – just fruit, sandwiches or healthy mini pizzas, juice or water. This teaches the kids about the importance of developing life-long healthy eating habits from a young age,” she adds.

Ms Saffin says the program’s a practical way of getting children in years 3 to 6 involved in healthy food habits.

“In schools that already have a vege plot, I’ve seen how much kids enjoy picking and eating peas and beans and even broccoli straight from the garden,” said Ms Saffin.

 “In this program children will work in a productive garden within their school where they will harvest the food and cook it in a purpose-built teaching kitchen, before sitting down together to taste and enjoy what they have made.”

Ms Saffin said one-off funding of up to $60,000 is available to local schools, to cover infrastructure costs associated with building kitchens and gardens.

The Program is currently being rolled out nationally, following its successful delivery in Victoria over the past seven years. Mr Rudd and his team have committed $12.8 million over four years for up to 190 primary schools nationally to participate in the program.

Expressions of interest are to be submitted online (www.health.gov.au) by September 5 so the Government can gauge the level of interest.

To find out more about this program, visit the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation website (www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au). If you like the sound of this, get in touch with your child’s school or forward this link to them!

Posted: Thursday August 28, 2008