Healthy Kids Association, with the support of the NSW Ministry of Health, is pleased to introduce the world's newest superhero: Captain Fruit N Veg!
Fruit & Veg Month is a popular health promotion event for NSW primary schools which helps to promote positive attitudes towards healthy eating and this year's event will centre around The Adventures of Captain Fruit N Veg. The superhero (a vital part of the team The aVEGers (get it?!)) will inspire and delight children throughout the month of September by encouraging them to go on an adventure with fruit and vegetables – by eating more of them and trying new varieties.
"Australian children don't eat enough fruit and vegetables. Consuming plenty of vegetables, and eating fruit each day, has been proven to help reduce the risk of obesity and some chronic diseases," says Katie Booth, Fuit & Veg Month Program Manager from Healthy Kids Association.
"Children are not overly concerned about long term health outcomes and tend to live in the moment. So if we want to encourage them to eat more fruit and vegetables, we need to make these foods desirable and relevant to what they need, or want – now! Some of the reasons behind children's food choices include taste, texture, availability, social acceptability and how it makes them feel.
"Captain Fruit N Veg will make eating fruits and vegetatables fun, linking them with good times, superheroes, superpowers and adventures."
Fruit & Veg Month will run from Monday 2 September to Friday 27 September 2019. Participating schools will use curriculum materials designed to increase students' knowledge about the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, as well as encouraging conversations about healthy lifestyles. The event is funded by NSW Health.
"We want kids to hit their recommended daily serves of fruit and veg and set up healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. Fruit & Veg Month helps to drive increased fruit and veg intake at school and in the home," says Katie Booth.
Fruit & Veg Month provides free resources to teachers in registered primary schools in NSW, including a Teacher's Booklet containing PDHPE-linked curriculum materials, classroom posters and student reward stickers.
