Fit Foodies

Fit Foodies 2013

 

 

Got a passion for food & fitness?

A group of interested parents and staff (the Fit Foodies)  get together periodically throughout the year, to digest good nutrition ideas and support food and fitness activities at St. Andrews Anglican College.  The aim of the group is to foster a positive nutrition and fitness philosophy at the College by offering innovations and support where appropriate.  This includes providing food at sports carnivals and working with the school canteen.

Many of our inaugural members have children now in their senior years, and are keen to support new members in continuing the work of Fit Foodies over future years.   No special skills are required except enthusiasm, energy and a good sense of humour!

 

Fit Foodies will be holding a planning meeting on Thursday 7^th February at 1.30 pm in the RGC and everyone is welcome.  If you can’t make the meeting but would still like to be involved, even in a small way, please contact Lorna  Garden (Macchia)   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Kylie Moses on  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

 

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FIT FOODIES HEALTHY LUNCHBOX - EASY DIPS

Serve with plain rice crackers (MSG-free), organic corn chips, toasted wholemeal pita bread, raw vege sticks,beans, snowpeas...

Hommus
1 tin organic chick peas drained and rinsed (or cook 150g dried chick peas)
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 lemon, squeezed
1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
+ optional 1 tablespoon organic un-hulled tahini paste

Put ingredients into blender and blitz, adding more olive oil to get a smoother texture. Season as desired. Store in small plastic container in fridge, lasts 3-4 days.

Guacamole
2-3 ripe avocados
1-2 tablespoons of Mexican salsa
+ optional dash lemon juice

Halve avocados, scoop flesh into a small mixing bowl and mash (potato mashers are great). Add salsa to taste. Eat immediately!

Tzadziki
1 cup natural yogurt
1 small clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon chopped mint leaves
1/2 cup cucumber diced finely

Mix! Eat! Excellent with vege sticks and snow peas.

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The Fit Foodies have been busy since Health and Fitness Week, talking about Litter-free Lunches and making hommous, guacamole and tzadziki with all Prep to Year 2 classes. The children ate their way through mountains of carrot and celery sticks as they decided which dip was their favourite. The recipes are on the Fit Foodie website so the children can make these easy dips at home.

 

The Year 4 students did a Recycling Week Litter Hunt on Monday November 9th, and counted and sorted litter from the Primary School grounds. The class found that the tuck-shop undercover area and benches in front of F block had by far the most pieces of litter, and most of it was  "hard and soft plastic" but not recyclable. Only a few clean paper pieces and plastic bottles that were found could actually be recycled. 4AO continued to stock their see-through recycling bin over the week and will present their findings to assembly.

 

We were surprised to learn that:- only aluminum and steel cans can be recycled, not other foil wrapping and lids.- tetra-paks (poppers) and foam products WITH the recycling logo can NOT be recycled on the Sunshine Coast.

- hard plastics with recycling logo 1 to 6 are recyclable (you must see the logo to be sure).

- plastic shopping bags can ONLY be recycled at supermarkets, NOT in the yellow lidded bin.

- paper put into landfill releases methane gas that leads to global warming, so it is vital that clean paper should be separated and recycled.

 

In recognition of St Andrew's efforts to reduce litter, Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA) has donated a worm farm for food scrap recycling to Prep and Outside Hours Care. Wendy and Catherine from NICA came to teach the preps how to look after worms on November 10th, and OHC will take care of the worms over the holidays. NICA have also donated a set of recycling books to the Learning Centre, which they presented to 4AO after their Recycling Week Litter Hunt.

 

We are hoping to build a worm farm with NICA for the fabulous Year 8 vege garden, so the High School can recycle food scraps too!

 

Kylie Moses

Fit Foodies

 

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Healthy Tip Do as I do.
Mums and Dads, experts now agree that parents are vital role models for establishing healthy eating and physical activity patterns in children. This includes teachers too! The best way to have fit, healthy and happy kids is to make sure they have fit, healthy and happy parents. Interestingly fathers appear to be particularly powerful agents in modelling physical activity. So get involved in fun games with your kids, play sports together (like beach cricket, running, riding etc.) and increase family lifestyle activities such as using stairs instead of escalators or lifts, riding the bike instead of taking the car and getting everyone involved in household tasks (okay so this last one is easier said than done but I know it will be worth it in the long run!!) Foster a positive family attitude to food and fitness.

St. Andrew's - a fit and healthy school
All schools in Australia, including St Andrews College, have just received a 'Healthy and active school communities' resource kit to promote good practice in healthy eating and physical activity for children. This is an Australian Government initiative primarily aimed at combating our growing childhood overweight and obesity problem.

Anybody interested in looking at this document should contact Steve Robson.

The great news however, is that our college is well advanced in adopting all of the principles of good practice outlined in the document. With a dynamic sports department, a committed principal, and highly motivated staff, parents and students, we have instigated initiatives such as a healthy tuckshop, a College nutrition policy, recommendations for food and sport, a kitchen garden, breakfast clubs, links with local community sporting groups, an incredible choice of sports and activities before, during and after school, and the commitment to making our college leaders in promoting physical activity and healthy eating on the Sunshine Coast.

Well done to everyone and let's keep up the great work!
Lorna Macchia.

Why the Fit Foodies?

St Andrews Anglican College (SAAC) places high importance on 'educating for life' and encourages students to adopt active healthy lifestyles . Nutrition is taught through the curriculum and healthy nutrition practices are supported by the college community.

The Fit Foodies is a group is aimed at helping to ensure that the school provides an environment that supports an awareness of good nutrition and healthy eating habits for its students, staff and parents/carers.

What do we do

The Fit Foodies is a group of school parents with an interest in food and fitness, who act as a reference to the school community, on nutrition related issues. They can assist in menu planning for events such as school sports days, camps, excursions, celebrations, etc., and can offer ideas for nutrition based curriculum activities. They believe in keeping the good nutrition message positive and fun to inspire great long term lifestyle practices.

Lunchboxes

St Andrews students are encouraged to bring nutritious and tasty snacks and lunches to school each day. It is recommended a variety of foods from the recommended food groups make up the content of the lunchbox. Refer to website and attached lunchbox ideas.
Ideas for lunchbox content will be provided periodically to parents through a range of avenues. These include -

• Website
• Information in Learning Centre
• Nutrition education sheets and workshops for parents

Non nutritious foods which are high in saturated fat and sugar are not recommended for inclusion in the lunchbox. e.g. lollies, chocolate bars, roll-ups, soft drinks, potato crisps etc

Chewing gum and bubble gum are not permitted.

Sport

• SAAC recognizes the value of linking positive sports performance and physical activity experiences with healthy eating habits. Within the framework of the sports program, opportunities to highlight the value of good nutrition for a fit and healthy body will be maximized.
• The school canteen will offer appropriate foods and fluids for students and staff to 'fuel' up with prior to sports sessions.
• The consumption of adequate fluid before, during and after physical activity will be a focus at all times.
• SAAC will make available appropriate foods and fluids for students and staff at sports events such as athletic and swimming carnivals.
• Various sports nutrition initiatives will be implemented throughout the school from time to time to further promote good food for fit bodies.

Healthy Lunch Time Tips

• Enjoying a nutritious lunch is really important for fuelling children's energy levels and concentration for an afternoon of learning and activity. Many parents go through the anguish of what to put in their children's lunchbox that will get eaten/stay fresh/keep cool etc. Here are a few tips to help make healthier lunches, easier.
• Plan lunches with your child at a time where you are not rushed (i.e. not school mornings!)
• Choose foods that are quick and easy to eat - most children are keen to go and play as soon as possible at lunch time.
• Use insulated lunch boxes, and add a freezer block to keep food fresh until lunch time.
• Many children, particularly younger ones, prefer their food separate, as finger food, rather than together in a sandwich or roll.
• Always include foods providing carbohydrate (preferably wholegrain versions) such as bread, pita, rolls, wholegrain crackers, pasta, and rice, and vary these from day to day.
• Foods rich in protein such as lean meat, chicken, tuna, salmon, hummus, cheese or egg help fill children up and are essential for growth and development.
• Add some fresh fruit - many children (and adults) will enjoy fruit more if it is presented as chopped/diced fruit, a fruit platter or fruit salad. Try small containers of strawberries, blueberries, diced mango, peach and nectarine, orange segments or apple slinkies.
• Sneak in some vegetables such as carrot or zucchini sticks, avocado instead of margarine/butter, lettuce with a little olive oil dressing, cherry tomatoes or sweetcorn mixed with a little parmesan cheese.
• Growing children have high calcium requirements so it is a good idea to include cheese, yogurt or milk in their lunch or morning snack. Alternatively, they can buy a cool milk or soy milk, yogurt, or frozen yogurt from tuckshop.
• Include a homemade treat (muffin, anzac biscuit, small banana cake etc) or let children choose a frozen yogurt or flavoured milk from tuckshop.
• Always include plenty of cool water to drink over the day.