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 The food scientists are so concerned about Australia’s obesity situation a special forum was convened at the recent Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology National Conference in Melbourne. As part of a panel of leading academics and food industry experts, I was invited to present my top ten strategies to help reduce the waistlines of Australians. As always I try to be as practical as possible, and the one strategy I feel most strongly about and really believe that we can make happen, is to make every school in Australia a nutrition school.
Surely our schools should be teaching children life skills? We teach them to read, to write and do some maths, but we also need to teach them about the workings of their own body and how to look after it…and that involves more emphasis on physical activity and sport but equally important is instilling healthy eating habits early.
While Stephanie Alexander’s school garden program is a great start, we can do so much more
Sit down lunches
 I would like to really push the idea of introducing a sit down lunch program at least once a week in every school. The Japanese and French do it every day so it can be done….but it will take a lot of passionate people to make it happen .
I have seen the Japanese program in action and it is just wonderful. The children have such a respect for food…they have a real connection with the food they eat. A hot lunch is provided every day under the guidance of the school dietitian. Students clear their desks, set out personally-made placemats, and take turns serving each other cooked meals prepared in a central kitchen. The meals are delicious and nutritious and afterwards, everyone helps to clean up. This program is heavily subsidized by the Government.
The Paris program is amazing. Healthy multi-course meals are served to French children at lunchtime from kindergarten onwards. With clever menu design no single meal is repeated in a 32-day period and every meal includes an hors d’oeuvre, salad, main course, cheese plate and dessert as well as suggestions for the evening meal at home. French children quickly learn that they won’t be fed anywhere else but at a table; snack and drink vending machines are banned. France’s lunch program is well funded by the government and while the country is cutting public spending and civil service jobs to try and slash a $2.1 trillion dollar debt, no one has dared mention touching the money spent on school lunches.
What is Australia doing?
We're still trying to work out the traffic light system in the tuck shops arguing whether cheese is in or out, flavoured milk is green or amber and how many times a month we allow red foods!!
I know there are some schools who have very enthusiastic teachers and parents who are providing some great meal options for our children at school but lets make it mandatory that every child in every Australian school enjoys a ‘hot’ sit down school lunch at least once a week.
Let me know if you are already doing it in your school and share your thoughts and advice so we can help lay the foundations for our children to grow up loving healthy food.
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