By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM Council is saying is ‘Give Peas a Chance’… or corn, or broccoli, or carrots, or any other vegetable.
The council’s new healthy eating campaign will focus on encouraging residents to understand the importance of good nutrition despite their busy lifestyles.
As part of the Give Peas a Chance campaign, Wyndham is starting the conversation and encouraging parents to consider some quick, simple and easy ways to add more vegetables to the family’s daily diet.
Cr Adele Hegedich is encouraging people to come down and share their healthy eating tips during the campaign launch at Point Cook Community Learning Centre on Saturday 20 July.
“As well as enjoying a warm and hearty cup of soup from our pop-up kitchen, there will be children’s entertainment, the chance to meet Harrison Ward councillors and to have your say on Wyndham City’s Community Health, Wellbeing and Safety Plan,” Cr Hegedich said.
“The pop-up kitchen will appear at surprise locations around Point Cook during the campaign and passers-by can stop for a healthy snack and a chat. By sharing a vegie tip for our cookbook, you could also receive a prize.
“As part of the campaign, there will be healthy eating posters around Point Cook and handy tip cards featuring easy ways people can eat more vegetables and showing why they’re a quick and easy option for the whole family.”
Statistics show around half of Wyndham’s residents are either overweight or obese, while preliminary findings from the Victorian Population Health Survey 2011-12 reveal only 2.5 per cent of Wyndham residents eat the recommended two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables a day.
This is the third lowest fruit and vegetable consumption rate in Victoria.
The launch of the Give Peas Chance campaign will be held on Saturday 20 July at the Point Cook Community Learning Centre at 1-21 Cheetham Street, Point Cook.