Crunch on vegetables
Most WA school kids meet the recommended intake for fruit, but only 1 in 6 eat enough vegetables. Students mainly bring fruit for Crunch&Sip, so there is a big opportunity to increase vegetable intake by choosing vegetables more often for Crunch&Sip.
Why send veg for Crunch&Sip?
- Health – Eating plenty of veg supports growth and development and reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
- Cost – A serve of carrots or celery sticks costs no more than 30 cents.
- Modelling – When children see teachers and their peers eating vegies, they are more likely to eat vegies themselves. This can really help parents struggling with fussy eaters!
If this is new for your family, try some of these tips:
- Start with vegetables your children are more familiar with
- Try sweeter vegetables like red capsicum or cherry tomatoes
- Allow children to choose their Crunch&Sip vegetables
- Keep vegetables fresh at school by storing in thermos containers
- Let kids pick out a special Crunch&Sip container from the supermarket
- Get kids involved in meal preparation at home
- Children’s food preferences are shaped by the diet habits of those around them – make sure you show them how much you enjoy eating vegetables!
Want ideas on how to promote vegetables at home? Click here.