Out with the pies and in with the smoothies: The canteen at Maranatha Christian College has undergone a major overhaul with plenty of healthy options on the menu. Back: Principal Andrew Mackenzie, Colleen Dutlow, head of campus Vernon Clark, canteen operator Anthony Cheeseman. Front: School captains Lauren Clark and Toni Van De Kerkhof with Holt MP Anthony Byrne.By Rebecca Fraser
A DANDENONG food retailer has helped an Endeavour Hills school bid farewell to hot dogs, pies and sausage rolls and promote healthier eating options in their college canteen.
Anthony Cheeseman is a former manager of KFC and McDonald’s and recently sold his two Michel’s Patisserie cake shops at Fountain Gate and opened a Cheesy food outlet, which sells healthy food options, in Dandenong Plaza.
The businessman is now at the helm of Maranatha Christian College’s school canteen, dramatically transforming the menu with real fruit smoothies, baked potatoes and even glutenfree pumpkin and spinach lasagne now on offer.
Late last year Mr Cheeseman approached the school about managing and operating the canteen as a commercial venture that would provide healthy eating options to students.
The move came after health and human development teacher Eva Silverstein and food technology teachers Jenny Hodge and Evelyn Clark decided something needed to be changed in the school canteen to promote healthier eating habits.
The teachers said they had been researching different food options for four months before Mr Cheeseman took on the role of canteen operator and they were happy with the new menu.
They said the new menu would lead to higher brain concentration, healthier bodies and a heightened alertness in the classroom.
“Students were very much in favour of this and the reaction has been amazingly favourable,” Ms Hodge said.
“We have not had a canteen this healthy for 20 years – it has been a radical change.”
Mr Cheeseman said he was keen to spread the initiative to other schools and instil healthier eating habits at more local canteens.
“My daughter was a student here and I thought ‘why are there no lunch orders’,” he said. “Kids are less active these days so eating a healthy diet could help counteract this because you cannot eat junk and be inactive at the same time and expect to be healthy.
“Businesspeople also need to be more responsible with what they serve.
“If the big boys like McDonald’s can have healthy choices, why can’t we do the same and offer some alternatives?”
Mr Cheeseman said students who worked in the canteen would receive certificates in recognition of their work and would be taught how to correctly handle food.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne has also commended the new move.
“This program not only promotes healthy eating, it supports local business, creates jobs and provides our young people with skills in food retailing,” he said.
“Local school communities should also know that they can apply for grants of up to $1500 from the Federal Government to promote healthy eating.”
Schools wanting to get healthy food into their canteens can contact Anthony Cheeseman on 0414 811 367.
Schools wanting more information on Healthy School Communities Grants can contact Anthony Byrne on 9796 7533.
