According to Cancer Council NSW only seven percent of children eat enough vegetables and 22 per cent of children are overweight or obese and they want children from Young to eat more veggies.
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Cancer Council believe adding fruit and vegetables to children’s lunch boxes every day is a simple way to ensure children get the benefits of eating a healthy and balanced diet.
Cancer Council NSW launched a new website on Monday to help parents and carers complete the task of creating healthy school lunches easier.
The website www.healthylunchbox.com.au includes recipes, ideas and tips – and it also features an interactive lunch box builder that enables parents and their kids to plan a healthy lunch box at home, or on the move with their smartphone or tablet.
The Healthy Lunch Box shows local parents how easy it can be to add more fruit and veg and pack a lunch box that kids will love to eat while encouraging behaviour that has lifelong cancer prevention benefits.
One in three cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating well, being active and maintaining a healthy weight.
But only 7 per cent of NSW children eat enough vegetables and 22 per cent of children are overweight or obese.
The website has been launched as part of Cancer Council NSW’s Eat It To Beat It program which runs free sessions and workshops across the region for parents of primary aged school children, helping them to understand why fruit and vegetables are so important.
Pip Grant, Community Engagement Manager Cancer Council NSW said parents want quick and easy access to healthy recipes and inspiration on how to vary lunch box content.
“Parents want to ensure they are providing their kids with the energy and nutrients they need to learn and play,” said Ms Grant.
“With one child eating about 2,500 lunches throughout their years at school, many parents report that packing lunch boxes can be a chore, especially when it comes to getting kids enthusiastic about healthy options such as fruit and vegetables,” Ms Grant concluded.
The website has been made possible thanks to the ongoing generosity of OUTRUN CANCER (www.outruncancer.com) and the community.
Visit www.healthylunchbox.com.au and pack a tasty healthy lunch box.