With that in mind, a local retailer has dished up a special offer to local schools to coincide with next month’s Food Revolution Day.

The Good Guys Tamworth is banging the healthy food drum by offering a “kid-friendly” appliance pack for a local canteen as part of the global day.

One local school already undergoing a food revolution is Oxley Vale Public.

As part of the state government’s Live Life Well at School program, Oxley Vale is in the midst of overhauling its canteen. 

The school curriculum is also being tweaked to focus more on nutrition and exercise and teachers are even put on daily “eating duty”, where they encourage children to eat their lunch before playing.

“Days like Food Revolution Day give us an opportunity to talk to students about healthier options,” Year 1 teacher Helen Rowsell said.

“Kids love preparing food so we might make a salad or spaghetti and meatballs from scratch.

“It’s about exposing them to different foods.”

Oxley Vale principal Luke Norman said the reach of schools had extended well beyond the three Rs.

“We’re being asked to do more and more external to education,” Mr Norman said.

“A lot of parents feel because they can’t supervise their children at school, they aren’t eating what’s in their lunchbox.  It’s the responsibility of parents to pack a healthy lunch but it’s the responsibility of teachers to make sure the children are fed.

“If they’re not well-fed, they won’t engage in learning.”

The Good Guys Tamworth franchisee Kathy Webb said there were some simple ways to encourage kids to eat healthily.

“Parents are so time poor and it’s easy to just snatch and grab takeaway on the way home,” she said.

“But there are appliances that can help you eat healthy and prepare it quickly.”

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day will be held on May 16.

For ideas on how your school can get involved with the day, visit www.foodrevolutionday.com