BY karen poh
BRIMBANK City Council’s initiative to promote healthy eating may change the way locals and businesses think about food.
Brimbank mayor Sam David, flanked by councillors Anthony Abate and Kathryn Eriksson launched the eight-week pilot program last week, handing out Healthy Cheap Eats in St Albans brochures to local residents.
“The brochure showcases a variety of healthy meal options that are available to the community to encourage healthy eating choices … under $5.50,” Cr David said.
Cr Eriksson added, “Re-educating the community that it’s not expensive eating healthy meals will be of enormous benefit to the future health and wellbeing of Brimbank’s residents.”
The initiative could benefit from more input and participation from local businesses and members of the community, as only a handful of local eateries were featured in the brochure.
But Council’s Community Wellbeing Manager Wendy Ross said only the Main Rd and Alfrieda St area within St Albans was selected for the pilot.
“The future of this initiative will be shaped by the feedback we receive from the community,” she said. “Depending on the feedback gained, and the success of the pilot, there are a number of possible directions.
“These might include development of brochures for individual shopping precincts across the municipality, or it might be a Healthy Cheap Eats Guide covering all of the municipality – and if appropriate, external funding to support this work will be pursued.”
Apart from affordability, the eateries featured were chosen based on serving size, nutrition and meal composition in line with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, Ms Ross said.
More than 5000 brochures will be distributed during the eight-week pilot.
Copies of the brochure can be obtained from the St Albans library, St Albans Leisure Centre, and at various local community organisations and businesses. Local businesses who offer affordable healthy meals under $5.50 and would like to take part in the initiative can contact the Council’s Community Wellbeing department on 9249 4000.
