Fresh fruit replaces pies at healthy eating gold award school

1.00pm

Sarah Mahanga used to hang out for the school lunch bell every day, so she could tuck into a pie.

The nine-year-old Onerahi Primary School, Whangarei, student would then finish lunch off with a can of soft drink and a handful of lollies.

All that junk food gave her a sore stomach but she "needed" to eat junk food daily.

A year later, Sarah has a craving for healthy food instead -- thanks to her school taking part in a healthy eating programme which has won the school national recognition.

"I have sandwiches, healthy drinks and apples instead and I feel heaps better," Sarah said, happily munching on a ham sandwich, made with wholemeal bread.

"I don't get sore stomachs any more and I tell other kids to stop eating junk food because it's not healthy for your body."

Onerahi Primary has been taking part in the Heart Foundation's School Food Programme, which aims to change the nutritional diet of primary school children.

It was so successful in improving the students' diet, Onerahi Primary was given the Gold Award which has only been handed to five other schools in New Zealand.

The Heart Foundation provides free resources to participating schools, such as healthy eating cookbooks, in a bid to promote healthy lifestyles.

Onerahi Primary acting principal Marilyn Dunn was "very excited" by the award after putting in a "heck of a lot of effort".

The effort involved changing the lunch menu to get rid of junk food and planting a vegetable garden so the children could make stir-fries, soups and salads.

Pastry foods are only sold three days a week and fizzy drink is banned.

Ms Dunn said the school joined the programme after noticing the high amount of junk food being eaten.

"We noticed a lot of kids eating and drinking rubbish like chocolate biscuits, chippies and fizzy drinks and we really thought it was affecting their behaviour.

"So we decided to change their way of thinking and since we started the Gold Award we've noticed a total difference.

"Instead of bringing chocolate biscuits and other things filled with sugar, they're bringing fruit, salads and filled rolls," Ms Dunn said.

Heart Foundation health promotion co-ordinator Rona Mahy-Willis said Onerahi Primary had made a "pretty amazing achievement" by winning a Gold Award.

"It's not an easy thing to achieve and they have put in a lot of work to get there.

"They've really turned their lunch system around and they've put in an edible garden which has got them back to grass roots (of healthy eating)."

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)