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How did the project come about?
Meetings with childcare centre directors and parents indicated a need for practical cooking and food preparation session for parents. Committees at local long day care centres (LDCCs) were looking for topics for parent information evenings. It was decided to trial a cooking demonstration of healthy lunchbox and snack ideas at one centre, followed by similar sessions at other centres if viable.
Aim and target group
The aim was to educate and show parents how easy, cheap and simple healthy food can be. The target group was parents of children aged 0–5 years.
Project overview
The program involved advertising a pilot parent workshop called ‘Healthy Food for Kids’ through an LDCC, then conducting a two-hour workshop demonstrating healthy lunchbox ideas and snacks. This pilot was followed by a series of sessions at local centres and preschools, some focusing on lunchbox and snack ideas and others on quick and easy family meals. One session was a fundraiser for the centre, with cookbooks, Tupperware and raffle tickets sold.
Support in promoting the workshops were provided by the LDCC. There were minimum numbers set, and programs were conducted if the centre could guarantee attendance levels.
Outcomes:
- One centre raised in excess of $500 as a fundraising event
- One centre used the session as part of parent orientation evening to highlight nutrition policy, making it significantly easier to implement the policy throughout the year
- In total, six workshops have been conducted with total attendance of 145 parents and staff
- Process evaluation was not conducted for these sessions
- In 2006, a more structured intervention with impact evaluation is planned.
What worked well?
The practical aspects of the program worked well – actually demonstrating food preparation ideas and showing products was effective. It was also useful to set a minimum number of participants and make the centres responsible for rallying participants. An improved relationship with the centres was also a very positive outcome.
What would be done differently?
In future it would be ideal to conduct some pre- and post-program lunchbox assessments to determine any changes as a result of the sessions. It would also be useful to conduct process evaluation and also obtain permission to follow up some of the group members after three months by phone or survey to determine the impact of the session on their family eating habits.
Where to now?
The workshops will be conducted in 2006 with a meal preparation theme. They will be conducted in new locations, and promoted via the directors’ meetings.
Summary
Recommendations would be that the effort of actually making meals and working with real food is worthwhile. It does not cost very much money to fund the cost of ingredients, and can be covered by a donation at the door, or some fundraising ideas.
The other suggestion would be to plan evaluation and work in with the Department of Community Services (DoCS) representative who conducts directors’ meetings.
