Castlemaine Football Netball Club – Juniors is one of 10 winners in the first Vic Kids Eat Well Awards. The awards recognise amazing efforts by organisations to provide healthier food and drink options for kids across the state.
The judges commended on the Castlemaine Football Netball Club – Juniors’ creative and significant changes to their menu and were impressed with how delicious and healthy options were promoted to young players.
Liza Shaw, Dhelkaya Health’s Health Promotion Officer, has worked closely with the club to implement healthy changes to the canteen for their junior players.
Ms Shaw said: “All kids deserve access to healthy and delicious food in places where they learn and play. We have been proud to be part of Vic Kids Eat Well and we’re delighted to see the club take home this award for taking such a fresh approach to their food and drink options.”
The club has refreshed their canteen fridge and changed the menu, boosting veggies and promoting healthy options for kids at games. Baked beans and tomato slices were added to wholemeal toasties. Free fresh fruit is now also offered.
Vic Kids Eat Well is supported by the Victorian Government and is delivered by Cancer Council Victoria’s Achievement Program, in partnership with Nutrition Australia’s Healthy Eating Advisory Service.
Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, congratulated the winners and nominees, and said it was impressive to see the positive difference that programs like Vic Kids Eat Well make at a local level.
“We want all Victorian children to enjoy a healthy, happy childhood. Programs like Vic Kids Eat Well are helping to set up our children for good health and future wellbeing,” Minister Thomas said.
Cancer Council Victoria, CEO, Todd Harper AM, thanked all the award winners and nominees for their incredible progress since Vic Kids Eat Well was launched last year.
“We congratulate all Vic Kids Eat Well award winners and nominees for their passion, support and dedication to give kids the healthy start they deserve,” Mr Harper said.
“Step by step, organisations changed canteen, sports club or kiosk menus to introduce delicious fruit and veggie options and promote water. They encouraged kids to get involved in planning and cooking fresh produce from their community gardens or learning about different food cultures.
“With over 650 organisations that have now joined Vic Kids Eat Well, we hope to see more inspired to ‘take a bite’ towards a healthier future for all kids living in Victoria.”
Nutrition Australia, CEO, Lucinda Hancock, added her congratulations to the winners and nominees and praised those who have been champions of change within their local areas.
“As a community we all want kids to grow up happy and eating well. Nutritious, tasty foods help kids enjoy school, their favourite sport or time with friends,” Ms Hancock said.
“It’s very encouraging to see the changes these organisations and champions have made; from involving kids in menu decisions at OSHC, prepping and cooking foods for their fellow school students or providing healthy snacks and water to help kids play sport.
“And our biggest champions are the kids who’ve embraced these food and drink swaps, which see them enjoy veggie-packed meals from their canteen menu or school lunch orders, or through fruit cups and snack packs for kids’ library story-time, using reusable water bottles and getting ‘hands-on’ using seasonal fresh produce grown from gardens.
“All the Vic Kids Eat Well award winners and nominees are our healthy heroes, who helped fuel kids’ learning, fun and activity at schools, OSHC, sports clubs and community organisations across Victoria.”
Note to editors:
The recipients of the Vic Kids Eat Well Awards are:
‘BIG BITE’ AWARDS
These awards recognise member organisations that successfully completed one or more bite-sized changes as part of the free Vic Kids Eat Well movement in 2022.
Schools category:
- Winner: Mount Rowan Secondary College, Ballarat
- Honourable Mention: Toorloo Arm Primary School, Lake Tyers Beach
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) category
- Winner: Athol Road Primary School OSHC, Springvale South
- Honourable Mention: Gumnuts Lakes Entrance OSHC
Sports, Community & Council-run facilities category:
- Winner: Castlemaine Football Netball Club – Juniors
- Honourable Mention: Springvale Library Café
