Aussie school kids happy to grow and cook new foods, study reveals.

The University of Melbourne and Deakin University have released a research report evaluating the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program and confirmed that it has created positive health behaviour change in primary school children. The study was carried out over two years assessing 770 children's change in attitude, behaviour and knowledge of food. Interviews with 562 parents and 93 teachers were also conducted. Results revealed there was a significant increase in children's willingness to try new foods, with 39 per cent of children reporting they would always try new foods, compared with 26 per cent at the start of the program. Seventy-one per cent of children in participating schools reported they enjoyed cooking, compared with just 50 per cent at non-participating schools. Principal investigator from the University of Melbourne Dr Lisa Gibbs said the flow on effect of this program is significant stating that forty-one per cent of parents in the survey claimed their children asked them to cook food they had made at school. 'Teachers are also seeing a noticeable difference in the nutritional quality of food that children had been bringing to school for snacks and lunches since the program had been introduced.' Cook, restaurateur and food writer Stephanie Alexander said a fundamental aim of the program has always been to show children the benefits of healthy food preparation and how it can become part of their every day lives.