What our kids are cooking

Many of the recipes and techniques taught in school cooking classes are based around cakes, muffins and desserts with less than 50 per cent of kids being taught how to plan, prepare and cook a nutritious main meal, according to a study.

Almost 120 intermediate schools across the country took part in the study, carried out by Massey University in conjunction with Vegetables.co.nz and the Heart Foundation, to see how Year 7 and 8 students are being taught cooking skills under the current curriculum.

The findings show food preparation needs an overhaul say researchers who found just 13 per cent of teachers identify planning and preparing a complete, healthy meal as a key learning objective.

Heart Foundation food and nutrition manager Dave Monro said while many schools were doing a good job of teaching cooking, he was concerned about the inconsistencies in what was taught, how it was taught.

“Only 10 per cent of teachers surveyed listed the fruit and vegetable content of a recipe as a factor that influenced their recipe choice.

“With one out of every three Kiwi kids now overweight or obese it is more important than ever to equip them with skills that will help set them up for a healthier future.”

Only 85 per cent of Year 7 and 8 students were taught theory-based nutrition and the most common messages were about food safety, hygiene and food groups. Very few teachers discussed sugar and fat levels with their students.

Monro said the findings indicated there were opportunities to better support a healthy lifestyle, with important skills in food preparation. “Traditionally, schools and parents were the main teachers of cooking skills, however, changes in traditional family structures have resulted in fewer opportunities for our children to develop these important life skills. “The school curriculum is the most appropriate place to teach and develop cooking skills as it reaches all children and provides many learning opportunities across a number of subject areas.” As a result of the findings, the Heart Foundation and Vegetables.co.nz will work with other key agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools to strengthen the current curriculum.

“This will potentially include a streamlining of the cooking curriculum for better consistency, a stronger focus on preparing a main meal including plenty of vegetables and fruit, and a central pool of resources and tools to enhance some of the work that is already being done.”

Deputy secretary of early learning and student achievement for the Ministry of Education, Karl Le Quesne said the Ministry was aware of the study and its recommendations which focused on the need for further guidance, rather than changes to the curriculum.

“We are working with home economics, health and physical education teachers across the country to make sure they have the resources they need to teach kids about the importance of cooking healthy meals.”

Le Quesne said this also included lessons in healthy eating on a budget.

According to the curriculum, all students are expected to have had a chance to learn practical cooking skills by the end of Year 8.