Healthy eating is the new craze at Gum Flat Public School.
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In an effort to improve concentration in the classroom and children’s overall health, the school has been integrating nutrition into the whole curriculum this term with the Live Love Life program.
Children designed healthy eating posters in English, measured the sugar content of their food in mathematics and drew the most unhealthy lunchbox they could imagine for homework.
Nutritionist Zoe Goddard, personal trainer Kate Auld and owner of the Nourish Bar Project Emma Warrener have been supporting the program with resources and talks for the parents.
“It’s trying to get the community involved in our school community and doing really positive connections that way,” principal Charmaine Johnston said.
“All those different aspects are coming together, and it’s showing through with the kids. They are starting to look at the packaging, look at the sugar content, they’re starting to bring in healthier options, and they’re choosing this. So with the parents involved - they’re supporting the kids - but the kids are actually driving it.”
Student Mellissa Klidon took the teaching to heart.
“I told mum about the white bread, because it has a little bit of sugar in it. So I told mum, so she’s been giving me wholemeal bread right now. It’s very yummy,” she said.
“My first selection of healthy food would be an apple, banana and beetroot,” Cooper Taveira said.
Teacher Emily Bell said the school had noticed that children who ate a lot of processed foods had more trouble concentrating in class. She said that while the students were thoroughly embracing the healthy eating message, most didn’t pack their own lunchboxes, and some were having trouble passing the knowledge onto their parents.
She said parents from all over the Inverell district are welcome to come along to the next two information sessions at 3.45pm on September 5 and 19. She said it wasn’t about blame, but a positive way to help children learn better, feel great, and develop valuable skills for the future.
“All this stuff’s so amazing and so helpful, and it’s not just spitting out information at you and hoping that you’ll change that, it’s also giving you skills and ideas of how you can change it, so it’s really helpful,” she said.