The Andrews Labor Government is helping children in Wyndham develop lifelong healthy eating habits through Playground to Plate grants that help schools to set up kitchen gardens and boost healthy food education.

Today, I visited Western English Language School in Manor Lakes to congratulate them on being one of the 100 Victorian schools awarded a grant as part of the Playground to Plate program.

The program delivers $500,000 to help schools improve or establish a kitchen garden based on the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden philosophy.

Kitchen gardens encourage kids to get involved with growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh, seasonal, delicious food and improve the overall health and wellbeing of the school community.

Western English Language School can now use the grant to build garden beds or buy gardening tools, or kitchen equipment to cook healthy and delicious meals.

The funding will also support the Western English Language School to work towards health and wellbeing priorities identified in the Labor Government’s Achievement Program.

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation will support successful schools with their kitchen garden programs, and help them use programs like these to promote health and wellbeing across all children in Victoria.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee, Tim Pallas MP

“Congratulations to Western English Language School which will receive funding to deliver kitchen garden programs to their school community.”

“It’s an excellent opportunity for schools to teach gardening and cooking skills that emphasises the flavours as well as the health benefits of fresh, seasonal, delicious food.”

“Developing a food culture that values health and wellbeing during childhood helps to ensure lifelong healthy decisions and actions and build healthy habits into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Stephanie Alexander

“The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is thrilled to be working in partnership with the Victorian Government to deliver the Playground to Plate grant scheme.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to establish or enhance kitchen garden program infrastructure to support their delivery of pleasurable food education – helping students develop lifelong positive food habits through fun, hands-on learning.”