With less than one in ten children and adolescents eating the Australian Dietary Guidelines’ recommended daily intake for fruit and vegetables, Nestlé has partnered with the Australian Insitutute of Sport to roll out to Kitchen Kart program.
Valued at $25,000, the fully-equipped, mobile teaching kitchen can help teachers to deliver nutrition and cooking education, with the ability to hold classes in a hall, classroom, or the garden.
Teachers, parents and community members have three weeks to nominate their school to win the Kitchen Kart, while also winning $1000 to keep their own family healthy and active.
The fully mobile teaching kitchen has: A commercial convection oven for super-fast baking and cooking; an induction stove top for added student safety; a kitchen sink, clean and grey water waste tanks; lockable cupboards and drawers for security; child safe kitchen tools and utensils; sturdy, lockable castor wheels for easy maneuverability and safety; and tailored lessons, which include instructional videos, teacher tools and lesson plans.
Nestlé market nutritionist Megan Darragh said that when kids are eating vegetables, they are most likely having them at dinner, but there are lots of opportunities for kids to be eating vegetables at lunch and as snacks throughout the day.
“While 83 per cent of children are consuming some vegetables, they are not eating enough day-to-day,” she said.
“Every child is different and finding out what vegetables kids do and don’t like is an ongoing process.
“Talking to kids about vegetables, trialling them in different ways, such as grating veggies into spaghetti Bolognese or savoury muffins and getting kids involved in the kitchen can be a great way to familiarise children with new vegetables, or ones they don’t usually like to eat,” she said.
Parents, teachers, family and friends can nominate a primary school to win the Kitchen Kart (and win $1,000 for their own family) by visiting the Nestlé Healthy Active Kids website - healthyactivekids.com.au.
Each entry must answer: In 50 words or less, tell us how your nominated school can encourage a healthier generation of kids?
The competition is now open and runs until 9.59pm, Friday, September 1.