Funding Call to Make Nutrition Fun

"As Australian kids grow fatter, education about what makes healthy eating becomes increasingly important," Dr Haikerwal said.

"The Government has a responsibility to help schools teach kids about good nutrition."

As part of Family Doctor Week, Dr Haikerwal visited a Brisbane primary school today to emphasise the need for children to understand from an early age what makes up a healthy diet.

"It's not a matter of getting children counting calories, but rather the opportunity to teach them about all aspects of nutrition, from growing vegetables to being able to identify what makes healthy food and why, and being able to prepare healthy meals," he said.

"Some schools have already made fantastic efforts in the area of nutrition education, but many schools need additional help and funding to put nutrition education into practice."

In its 2006 Federal Budget Submission, the AMA called for additional funding to support and assist community institutions, including schools, in offering better nutritional choices.

"We propose that each school would have the chance to decide how to best use its nutrition funding," Dr Haikerwal said.

Possibilities include developing a school vegetable garden, employing a dietician or chef to aid in revising canteen guidelines, holding cooking classes, or staging school-wide events such as international food days or healthy cooking competitions.

One idea already in practice in some schools is using the tactics of junk food products to promote healthy choices at the tuckshop.

Lunch-box sized servings, bright packaging and gimmicks are all ideas that school canteens can use to make healthy foods cool, fun and engaging.

Speaking at Kedron State School, where he launched AMA Queensland's new Kids GP initiative to teach school children about nutrition, Dr Haikerwal said with proper funding, every school would be able to implement such strategies.

"Schools are wonderful places for kids to actively engage in learning about nutrition," he said.

"Now the government needs to provide the help schools need to set their ideas in motion."