Children snack attack

By Kath Gannaway
BATTLING the Christmas bulge is not only an issue for adults but also for some children.
Christmas and holidays are often a time when the rules are relaxed and treats and take-away are part of chilling out over summer.
For children returning to school it will be a bit easier to stick to a healthy diet with schools being encouraged to include healthy food choices in their canteens and high sugar content soft drinks banned from sale.
The sale of confectionery in school canteens will be phased out from 2007 and banned by the end of 2008.
With research showing one in four children are overweight or obese, Jacinta Allan, the Minister for Education Services, said schools have a role to play in encouraging children to lead healthy, active lifestyles.
Many schools in the Yarra Valley already promote healthy eating through their canteens by eliminating or restricting to special treat days high-fat foods and offering more fruit and healthy snack-food options.
The government’s Go for Your Life Healthy Canteen Kit provides practical information, tips and suggestions to help the whole school community make informed food choices and adopt a healthy and active lifestyle.
The kit is designed to assist schools to further develop policies and strategies for canteens and other food services. It includes a daily food planner, student learning activities focusing on healthy food choices and additional information and resources.
While schools are an important part of establishing good nutrition in children, parents have the primary role to play by working with schools and providing healthy lunch boxes – minus the high sugar soft drinks.