A big healthy hello to all of the Bowen State School Families,

Did you know that nearly all Queensland children do not eat the recommended daily intake of 2 fruit and 5 vegetables?

In fact fewer than six percent of Queensland children eat adequate vegetables and over a third of daily energy intake comes from discretionary food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt. Unfortunately 1 in every 4 children is obese. So, in a class of 24 students’ statics indicate that at least 6 of those students would classify as obese.

Alongside the home, schools play an important role in teaching children to experience and enjoy fruit and vegetables to ensure they develop the skills to support life-long healthy eating habits.

School lunch boxes can support students in reaching their daily recommendations just by encouraging the follow items being packed:

• Fruit – fresh, frozen, pureed or canned in natural juice
• Vegetables – carrot, capsicum, cucumber, corn, snow peas just to name a few
• Legumes and beans – chick peas, baked beans,
• Dairy - plain milk, yoghurt or cheese
• Lean meats such as poultry, eggs and fish
• Grains & cereals – seeded breads
• And of course plain water.

So until next time let us all work on our daily 2 & 5!

Olivia Gordon

Pick of the Crop Coordinator