Fruit in Schools reaches record
number of kids
Health Minister Jonathan
Coleman says this year’s
expansion of the successful
Fruit in Schools initiative
to a record 547 schools
including many in the Bay
of Plenty has had a positive
impact.
Zealand is one of the first OECD
countries to have a target and
a comprehensive plan to tackle
childhood obesity.”
“Children need to eat well in order
to optimise their learning and that’s
why Fruit in Schools is so beneficial
to students,” says Dr Coleman.
As a result, a total of 547 schools
including 46 in the Bay of Plenty
have benefitted in 2016, covering
around 103,000 students and
around 12,000 staff.
“Staff at the school also take
part to help encourage students to
try new things and influence their
healthy eating decisions.
“Fruit in Schools complements
the Childhood Obesity Plan. New
for the summer break, more than
20 million servings will have been
dished up.
Following the Ministry of
Education’s decile funding changes,
all existing schools have remained
in the Fruit in Schools programme,
with an additional 77 others eligible
to participate.
Schools receive high quality
seasonal fruit and vegetables, and
they sample up to 24 different types
of fruit or vegetable during the year.
By the time schools break up
Acting Principal of Maketu School
Regan Williams says, “Fruit in
Schools is really beneficial. We
have the fruit out at interval and
lunchtimes and the teachers take
it into their classes each morning.
We also use the fruit for language
experience activities where the
students make smoothies etc. and
then write and talk about their
learning experiences.”
The Government invests $7.8
million into the Fruit in Schools
programme each year. This is being
supported by the extra $568 million
going into Health for 2016/17 –
taking the total Health spend to a
record $16.1 billion.
This holiday season make every sleep for
baby a safe sleep
As the holiday season
approaches, families are
more likely to be on the move.
It is important that babies
always have a safe place to
sleep. Relying on a makeshift
bed while on holiday poses
risk of suffocation for
babies in their first year
of life. Planning ahead to
always have a safe sleep
environment for your baby will
reduce risk.
travel in a safety approved carseat
that is correctly fitted in the vehicle.
Covered carseats, or prams or
strollers where babies lie to sleep
can heat up quickly when out in
the sun. For babies, this can cause
overheating, reduced airflow and
make it difficult for them to breathe.
To keep babies safe during sleep,
always follow these simple rules:
Safe Hands
PLACE baby in his or her own
bed, face clear of loose bedding
and NO pillows, hats, bibs and
soft toys.
ELIMINATE exposure to smoking,
alcohol and drug use, and have
a smokefree family, home and
car.
POSITION baby flat and on the
back as their drive to breathe
works best in this position.
ENCOURAGE and support mum
to breastfeed to help protect baby.
Cool to Move
Holidays are spent outdoors and
travelling to and from our favourite
places. Always check that babies
Crestin Jessup watches over her newborn Nation
who is all set for a safe sleep.
To protect babies from the sun,
cover them, not the carseat, pram or
stroller. Use light, cotton clothing and
a light wrap, and keep them in a cool
and shaded area on hot days. Water,
sand and concrete can reflect UV light
that causes sunburn, so avoid placing
prams and strollers near these areas.
Holiday season is ‘party season’ as
friends and families celebrate and
have fun together. It is important
those with babies always have a safe,
sober caregiver or babysitter with
‘Safe Hands.’
Safe Hands will:
Make every sleep for baby a safe
sleep this holiday season
Handle babies gently.
Always place babies flat and on
their back for sleep.
Never expose babies to
smoking, alcohol or drugs.
Do safety checks of babies beds
and remove pillows, loose wraps
and soft toys.
Stay close and respond to
babies needs for food, comfort
and safety.
PlunketLine
Freephone 24/7
0800 933 922
Produced by Raewyn Lucas, Karen Palmer and Natasha Rawiri, BOPDHB