Healthy eating habits get rewarded

Kit Cohr, Wairarapa Heart Foundation heart health advocate, with Opaki School pupils after the presaentation of their Heart Start Award. Pic supplied to WTA by Kit Cohr on 27-11-15. WAG 30Nov15 -

Trading sausage sizzles for toasted sandwiches has helped earn Opaki School a Heart Foundation award.

Mariana Alletson, health promotion co-ordinator for the Heart Foundation, said Opaki School undertook a wide range of health promotion initiatives, which have contributed towards the completion of Heart Start: Toitoi Manawa, which is a free programme provided by the Heart Foundation to help schools build learning environments that promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Kit Cohr, Wairarapa Heart Foundation heart health advocate, presented the award at the school assembly on Friday.

"Opaki School has been so proactive in making changes and setting a great example for their kids to take forward in life. They've even helped educate the parents with an evening workshop. The school is doing a great job and should be applauded for what they have achieved."

Ms Cohr said helping children establish healthy habits in their early years "provides them with a strong foundation for good health and well-being throughout their lives".

Ms Alletson said school staff had attended a Heart Foundation workshop about sugar at the start of the year that led to the school-wide changes.

"Sweets are no longer used for class rewards and changes were made to the weekly lunch order such as replacing the large cookie with a piece of fresh fruit. Changes have also seen toasted sandwiches replace the classic sausage sizzle."

To support the practical changes students have been also learning about the importance of keeping themselves healthy through sessions with the Life Education Trust, and by participating in a skip-a-thon for the Heart Foundation national skipping programme Jump Rope for Heart.

The Heart Foundation Heart Start Award provides school staff with a range of information, planning tools, and curriculum guides "to aid them in their award journey".

Ms Alletson said. The free programme is open to all primary, intermediate and secondary schools in New Zealand.