Free health program gives St Andrew’s lunches a colour boost

New ABS data reveals the number of kids who don’t eat any fruit has doubled in a decade but students at St Andrew’s Primary School in Marayong are bucking the trend thanks to their teacher

Tileah Dobson

less than 2 min read

March 15, 2024 - 12:30PM

Kids News

St Andrew’s Primary School Year 5 students at Marayong in Western Sydney enjoying fresh fruit and vegetables thanks to a new program introduced by teacher Judith McMurrich. From left, Elijah Abboud, Maya Stewart, Narella Kerry, Isabelle Zammit, Olive Jaca, Laya Menon and Jimmy Dinh. Picture: Richard Dobson

Care to taste a rainbow?

In an effort to bring some fun and colour into eating well, teachers at St Andrew’s Primary School in Marayong have joined a free program that helps teach kids about health and wellbeing.

A report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that in 2022 the amount of children who don’t eat fruit daily has doubled over the last decade. The figure jumped from 2.8 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.8 per cent in 2022, while not eating vegetables daily has tripled from 1.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.

Which is why St Andrew’s teacher Judith McMurrich happily joined a program to help engage and educate her students.

St Andrew’s teacher Judith McMurrich signed up for the pilot program. Picture: Tileah Dobson

“This (program) is a way of meeting a need of the growing issues we have around wellbeing, healthy lifestyle, healthy eating, food choices and just generally our environment,” she said.

“We were approached to be a part of this pilot program last year where we did some virtual classrooms with experts in each of the fields that AIA Australia is representing.

“Students are really engaged because the virtual classrooms are very interactive. They’re finding it really interesting because it’s interactive and fun.”

St Andrew’s Primary School students Jacob Ingram, Isabelle Zammit, Narella Kerry and Rian Kerai are now enjoying more fruit at recess. Picture: Richard Dobson

Many of her students agree and told The Daily Telegraph that they felt “good” and “excited” about it.

“I feel that it is helping us in every way with our daily needs,” Isabelle Zammit, 10, said.

“I can’t think of a fruit that I haven’t eaten,” Elijah Abboud, 9, said.

After signing up for a second go at the program after a successful pilot, Ms McMurrich encourages her fellow teachers to join in.

“(Teachers are) very busy, very packed curriculum and we have a lot to fit in. This is an easy, free initiative,” she said.