KINGSBURY Primary School students have taken the expression ‘‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’’ to heart. Although they are part of the national Let’s Live Better health initiative, which ends on June 22, principal Barbara Hinsley and canteen manager Chris Mountney promote a healthy eating policy all year round.
“We don’t sell anything high in fat or sugar and we make our own seasonal fruit kebabs, as well as frozen fruit, which they [students] can have instead of icy poles,” Mountney says.
A grant has allowed Mountney to buy fresh fruit, which the children are given at recess and lunchtime.
Funded jointly by the Victorian government and the school council, Free Fruit Day is important to children who do not eat fruit at home.
“When my son was at school he had strawberries and some kids didn’t even know what they were,” says Mountney. “I think children have to be educated.”
Kingsbury Primary School has also started a vegetable patch, allowing children in before and after school care programs to plant, harvest and cook fresh produce. “We want to give our children the option that a healthy lifestyle can be both tasty and fun,” Hinsley says.
The students complement their diets with two-and-a-half hours of physical education a week, along with swimming, outdoor education, bike education, cross country running and inter-school sport.
Kingsbury is also joining more than 400 schools taking part in the Let’s Live Better project, Run Around Australia.
Parents are encouraged to accumulate “kilometres” by shopping at local fresh produce outlets. Each dollar spent is converted to a kilometre for the school. Schools with the most kilometres have a chance to win a makeover.
If Kingsbury wins the $46,000 main prize, Hinsley is keen to upgrade the school canteen. “We’d love to get some more food preparation cooktops, have the place repainted and keep things looking schmick,’’ she says. “It would be really special.”
Details: visit letslivebetter.com.au
