Kindy vegetable garden is a winner

LEILANI HATCH/Fairfax NZ

HEALTH BUZZ: Eden Duker and Charlotte Copeman, both 4, taste goodies grown in Manchester Kindergarten's garden.

Children willingly eating spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, humus and vegetable soup have won an award for a Feilding kindergarten.

Manchester Kindergarten won a gold Healthy Heart award from the Heart Foundation this month, in recognition of the efforts it has made to promote healthy lifestyles for the children and their families.

This year, teachers decided to encourage healthy eating and physical activity after they noticed a large amount of processed foods with high sugar and salt content in the children's lunchboxes.

In a bid to be healthy, the children began growing vegetables and learning how to cook with them. They have eaten spinach in their noodles, broccoli in muffins, homemade yoghurt, humus and muesli, cheese sauce with broccoli and cauliflower, and vegetable soup.

Teacher Vicki Hussey said the kindy did not expect the award.

"It was really exciting when we found out we won," she said. "We weren't expecting to get the highest level. We will definitely be continuing to do the same as it's become a passion for teachers and children."

- © Fairfax NZ News