Fresh Tastes Enhances School S Healthy Approach

Fresh Tastes enhances school’s healthy approach

Since signing up to Fresh Tastes, Weetangera Primary School has been integrating healthy food and drink options into their day-to-day activities. Rather than reinventing new programs or ways of operating, they’ve simply let Fresh Tastes enhance their existing approaches.

“We already had a strong community and a focus on keeping our students healthy,” said Natarsha Van Den Boogaard, the school’s former Fresh Tastes coordinator and classroom teacher. “Fresh Tastes made us look across the school and connect healthy Weetangera Primary School has tied fresh, food and living activities to existing programs.” healthy foods into celebration days like Harmony Day, where the canteen organised The school had been teaching the Go, Glow, orange-themed food platters. On French Grow concept of grouping foods in a simplified Bastille Day, new foods were on offer to try. nutrition program, which was then enhanced after some input from Nutrition Australia ACT. “This approach leads to class discussions that tie in different foods and cultures,” said “We had an afternoon of professional Natarsha. development on the Food&ME™ nutrition education resources for teachers with Nutrition “The senior students also discuss food Australia ACT, as well as a number of advertising and critically question foods that meetings to understand the Fresh Tastes are included in the Australian Dietary ideas,” said Natarsha. “This engaged teachers Guidelines. This then naturally leads to a to see that it is manageable and what it can do useful task in persuasive writing.” for us.” Of course, the canteen is also setting a strong example for students, with plenty of green choices available.

The school continually involves the “It’s how we talk about things now,” Natarsha canteen manager, teachers and noted. “For instance, when the disco is coming parents to brainstorm new up, we need to think about what we promote at innovations or to enhance existing the canteen and shift the mindset so everyone is clear about the options available for sale.” activities. Fresh Tastes is open to all primary schools across Canberra. Contact the Fresh Tastes team for information about how your school can get involved.