14/09/2020
Focus on fresh food collaboration
Supporting healthy eating habits for families
A collaboration has been forged between Mallee District Aboriginal Services and Mildura social enterprise Out of the Box to support the healthy eating habits of our local Aboriginal families.
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MDAS Nutritionist, Monica Doherty said the MDAS Early Years team works together with Aboriginal families sharing healthy eating ideas for children and adults alike via simple, healthy and affordable recipes.
Food Next Door Executive Officer Deb Bogenhuber said she was excited to be partnering up with MDAS to provide a box of locally grown fruit and vegetables when required to Early Years families from later this year.
“The idea was raised for us to coordinate some Out of the Box deliveries for our Early Years families, which we thought would work really beautifully” Ms Doherty said.
“It’s exciting because there are so many health benefits for everyone from eating locally grown produce – if the food is local it’s as fresh as possible, it hasn’t travelled or been in cold storage, and it’s nutritional content is as high as it can be,” Ms Bogenhuber said.
“The health benefits of eating seasonally are something we’re all losing touch with because we have access to whatever produce we want all year around,” she said.
“Food Next Door focuses on what’s naturally ripe and ready now – and the thing about seasonal eating is that it is not just about the flavour but it’s what your body naturally needs at any given time of the year.”
MDAS Early Years Manager Jacinta Molloy said the goal of the partnership was to work alongside our Early Years families to promote healthy family eating habits for all.
“Much of the produce that is available to consumers is picked a long time before we eat it, it’s travelled and been in storage. It looks good, but it doesn’t have that flavour we expect,” Ms Molloy said.
“It’s exciting to work together with our Aboriginal families to share food that is growing locally here in Sunraysia, to explore the taste of fresh, local produce and also have some fun together throughout the whole experience as well.”
Pictured: Deb Bogenhuber and MDAS Family Support Worker Leanne McDermott, with one of the fresh food boxes