Experts recommend compulsory food education in schools

Experts recommend compulsory food education in schools

Public Health Association media release, 13 May 2015

New Zealand health experts say it misses the point to claim healthy eating is a personal responsibility issue when many Kiwis don't understand how to do it and aren't equipped to make healthy food choices. Furthermore, many don't have the skills to prepare nutritious food. Could Jamie Oliver be part of the solution?

“Improving food and nutrition literacy for better health outcomes is hugely important and it has to start young. I am a full supporter of schools integrating this into their curriculum, their school food policies and into their everyday practices,” says Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health at the University of Auckland Boyd Swinburn.

Public Health Association Chief Executive Warren Lindberg says childhood is a key time to act, with evidence suggesting healthy skills and habits learnt during this time significantly impact our preferences in adulthood.

“Basic nutritious cooking used to be important in school education and has really taken a back seat in recent years. That sort of education equipped us with many skills for a lifelong healthy lifestyle.”

15 May 2015 is Jamie Oliver’s global ‘Food Revolution Day’. His challenge is for compulsory, practical food education to be returned to school curricula, so future generations can learn to grow and prepare nutritious and have the tools to lead healthier, happier and more productive lives.

Home Economics and Technology Teachers’ Association of New Zealand President Prue Rehu says that, while health and physical education is a compulsory component of our school curriculum up to senior levels, home economics is not.

“Observations suggest the need for back to basic food knowledge, meal planning, and management of resources and cooking skills, which unfortunately is not available to every student. If it were, it would make a difference to the lives of our young learners.”

Jamie Oliver’s petition to return compulsory food education to school curricula can be signed online at http://www.foodrevolutionday.com/. It is supported by MANY well-known Kiwis, including Professor Boyd Swinburn, Monty Beetham (co-founder ‘Steps for Life’), Jim Mann (Professor in Human Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Otago) and public commentator Gareth Morgan.

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