Food,
glorious food, was the theme of National Literacy and Numeracy Week,
and pupils from Altona Green Primary School whisked up a storm.
Grade 5/6 students paired up for a MasterChef-style
cook-off, making omelette with eggs from the school’s chickens and
ingredients from the Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden.
The winner, Kaitlyn, helped in the kitchen by Cassie, used
spinach, mushrooms, and fresh and semi-dried tomatoes to create a dish
infused with subtle sophistication.
The school is among 363 nationwide that are involved in the
Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden program, where children grow and
harvest fruit and vegetables.
Kitchen specialist Julie Cassie said the Altona Meadows school was one of the first 15 in Australia to join up six years ago.
“Everything they cook, every lesson is from produce from the
garden, so they harvest it and cook five dishes and have lunch together.
“We actually had a child last year who refused to eat anything and then by the end of the year he wrote a notebook called The Diary of a Wimpy Eater, and he now eats broad beans and beetroot and everything.” Cassie said nearly every pupil now grew herbs or vegetables at home.
Throughout literacy week pupils at Altona Primary School,
including Emily, also dressed up as their favourite food and held a
parade.
Journalist Goya Dmytryshchak was one of the judges.
