Traditional Foods on the Curriculum

To celebrate Nutrition Week 2000, a Brisbane-based nutrition project is promoting the importance of including traditional foods of newly arrived migrants as part of school lunches.

The project, a teaching module entitled “School Lunches: a World of Choice”, provides the opportunity to include current food and nutrition issues in the curriculum.

This teaching module is a joint initiative of Nutrition Australia, Queensland Health and the Queensland School Curriculum Council (QSCC), and forms part of the new Health and Physical Education curriculum materials.

According to Nutrition Australia Health Promotion Officer, Ms Louise D’Allura, studies show children of newly arrived migrants are turning towards high fat and high sugar snacks in place of healthier, traditional foods for lunch.

“This trend has obvious health implications, especially the risk of nutrition related diseases later in life. The aim of this project was to tie this issue with the curriculum so students can identify healthy food choices and ways of including a range of nutritious, multi-cultural foods in their diets,” Ms D’Allura said.

“Nutrition Week is an ideal time for students to learn about the importance of eating well and develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of food from a variety of cultures. They are also taught how to include these foods in their everyday school lunches.”

“The module and poster have been sent to all primary schools in South-East Queensland as part of Nutrition Week 2000 to highlight this year’s theme, Celebrating Australian Foods.”

The poster that supports the module, also entitled “School Lunches: a World of Choice” was developed to promote multiculturalism and acceptance. It is written in community languages and English for use in classrooms and libraries in conjunction with the new curriculum.

Nutrition Australia and the Queensland School Curriculum Council developed the module for lower primary students.

According the Queensland School Curriculum Director, Mr Jim Tunstall, the module involves students in a range of activities that build upon their prior knowledge and experiences. 

“The activities will provide opportunities for students to demonstrate core learning outcomes of the strand Promoting the Health of Individuals and Communities in the new Health and Physical Education Syllabus,” said Mr Tunstall.

Primary schools in South-East Queensland have been sent copies of the module and poster in time for Nutrition Week from 15-21 October. Copies are also available on the QSCC website at www.qscc.qld.edu.au. Additional posters will be available for a limited time from the Nutrition Australia office at 6/100 Campbell St, Bowen Hills 4006, Australia

ENDS

Nutrition Australia – Queensland

Louise D’Allura

Health Promotion Officer

PH       07 3876 2677