Planting the Seeds for a Healthier Future
Students at Westfield Park Primary School in Perth are learning healthy lessons for life by growing and cooking healthy food through their participation in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program.
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9 June 2010
Students at Westfield Park Primary School in Perth are learning healthy lessons for life by growing and cooking healthy food through their participation in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program.
Today I was proud to join the Westfield Park school community to officially open their kitchen garden.
Westfield Park Primary is one of 15 Western Australian government primary schools currently taking part in the program, aimed at encouraging healthy eating habits in school-aged children.
The Rudd Government has provided $12.8 million for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program to implement a pilot kitchen garden program in up to 190 schools across Australia.
Westfield Primary School is to be congratulated on becoming a fantastic example of what can be achieved through this program.
The program encourages primary school students to learn how to grow, cook and share fresh food in the belief that this will provide a better chance of positively influencing children’s food choices.
Nearly a third of children do not meet the national physical activity guidelines, and only one-fifth of four-to-eight-year-olds and five per cent of 14-to-16-year-olds meet the dietary guidelines for vegetable intake.
By allowing children to experience the joys of growing food and preparing and sharing a carefully prepared, nutritious meal the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program allows children to connect in a very real and practical way with the source of their food and to see the benefits of healthy eating.
Each successful school receives a grant of up to $60,000 to help with the construction of infrastructure for the program, such as new kitchens and gardens.
To date, funding totalling $5.38 million has been provided to 88 government primary schools across Australia in the first two funding rounds of the program.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.
The third round of the program opened on 17 May and will close on 25 June 2010.
For further information about the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program go to www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
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