By ANEEKA SIMONIS
WITH diet-related diseases rising at an alarming rate, schools and early childcare centres across Pakenham are getting on the front foot and educating their kids about food.
And it turns out the fight for food education is a yummy one.
Littlies at Time 4 Tots Early Learning Centre in Pakenham took part in Jamie Oliver’s Squash it Sandwich challenge for Food Revolution Day on Friday 15 May.
Colourful vegies pressed together inside a healthy wholemeal bun were enjoyed by the kids who were also given a lesson about where certain foods come from and how they affect the body.
Cucumber, capsicum, cauliflower and beetroot were just some of the colourful goodies the children got to play with at the make-shift kitchen benches.
Worldwide, there are more than 42 million children under the age of five who are overweight or obese, according to the famous chef.
“It is every child’s human right to have access to food education from a young age,“ Jamie Oliver said.
“It’s only with this knowledge and understanding of food, where it comes from, how it affects their bodies, and how to grow, cook and enjoy it, that we will be able to fix the terrible state of global health as it stands today,” he said.
He said better understanding about food will help reverse poor health prospects that are predicted to overwhelm health services across the world.
“I simply want every child to plant seeds, to witness food growing, to tend to it, nurture it, harvest it, have fun cooking it and, most importantly, to enjoy eating it and sharing it with the people they love,” he said.
Lakeside Children’s Centre and Cardinia Life littlies also took part in the fun food experience along with St Patricks Primary School days later.
