Kids learn that fresh is best

By Bridget Cook
STUDENTS from Hallam Primary School have been cooking up a healthy storm in the kitchen.
As part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, based at Hallam Senior Secondary College, students cook a different meal each week using ingredients grown from their vegetable garden.
More than 80 Grades 3 and 4 students work in the vegetable garden and the kitchen each week.
The program, which kicked off at the school last year, aims to introduce young people to the wonderful world of good food, by developing a productive food garden and an exciting kitchen.
It gives primary school students the opportunity to plant, grow, harvest, cook and eat the very best of food.
Grade 3/4 teacher Dianne Burns said one of the ingredients the students had grown was pumpkin.
“We made pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin risotto as well as salads using freshly grown lettuce and tomatoes,” she said.
She said everyone at the school loved the program.
“Children are more keen to try different types of fresh foods at home,” she said.
The students recently cooked spring rolls.