Kids want to fit in, so if the norm is to eat more eco-friendly foods, then many kids will go with the flow. How sustainability and nutrition education are delivered in your school will depend on where you live, your specific school and the teacher, but regardless of this, as parents and carers we can be educating our kids on this at home.

Many primary schools across WA, NSW and QLD participate in Crunch & Sip ®. This involves staff and students eating fruits and vegetables and drinking water together in the classroom at a set time every day. This encourages kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables by making it the norm. It also sparks conversations and interest in foods your child might not have tried. If your school participates in Crunch and Sip ® (or it may be called something else, such as Brain Food) remember to keep the skins on the fruits and vegetables to reduce waste, and use a plastic-free lunchbox.

OzHarvest FEAST is another school program that combines nutrition and sustainability. OzHarvest FEAST is designed for students in years 5 and 6 and supports the school curriculum. It educates children about nutrition and food waste and gives kids the motivation and confidence to take action.

Many schools have unique programs that encourage eco-friendly eating behaviours, such as Waste Free Wednesday, which encourages no plastic packaging in lunchboxes. We encourage you to contact your school to ask what programs they run – if any!

Practising eco-friendly eating at home will reinforce what is being taught at school and help to establish lifelong healthy behaviours.