Eating Fruit Each Day Can Take The Blues Away
Emerging evidence links eating more fruit (and vegetables) to improved mental wellbeing. Although with the cost of living rising, it can be challenging for students and their families to incorporate all five food groups into three healthy meals a day. We are exploring initiatives to help, which we hope to expand to all campuses.
In 2016 the results of a study involving over 12,000 Australian’s found a link between eating fruits and vegetables and improved happiness and wellbeing. That study promoted further research in the UK with 40,000 participants which reported increases in their mental wellbeing and life satisfaction, over a five-year period. With this research in mind and knowing that our wellbeing benefits from less of some foods, and more of others, we are putting small initiatives in place now towards implementing a Healthy Foods Program to launch in 2024.
Fruit bowls
Eating fruit each day can take the blues away. Some classes provide fruit bowls to offer students a healthy snack when needed, to avoid sugary snacks and ease sweet cravings. We want to make this consistent across all classes and campuses
TIP: Add fruit to at least two meals a day. Did you know tomatoes, avocados, olives, corn, cucumbers and zucchini are, botanically speaking, FRUITS?
Breakfast club
Hunger is a distraction from learning. Some classes have now started offer several breakfast options. We would love to see this program expand with community support across all classes and campuses.
We are looking for local donors and/or businesses to partner with this program. Make it a corporate social responsibility or workplace giving project and help us raise the funds or acquire good food for our students to start their day feeling energised.