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Great Vegie Crunch 2019

Only one in six WA kids eat enough vegies

Well over 100 Western Australian schools will munch away during the upcoming Great Vegie Crunch which runs from Monday 9 September to Friday 13 September.

The annual Great Vegie Crunch will see primary school students simultaneously crunch on fresh vegetables to raise their ‘crunch-o-meters’ off the charts.

Teachers will use the Crunch&Sip phone and tablet app to measure the ‘crunchibels’ of the simultaneous crunch at each primary school, which ranks from ‘echidna nibble’, ‘quokka chew’, ‘koala bite’ and the loudest ‘crocodile crunch’.

The Great Vegie Crunch is run by Cancer Council WA’s Crunch& Sip® program who are hoping for a record number of participants this year, to surpass the previous record of 27,402 set in 2017.

The Crunch&Sip program, which is in its 14th year, is a daily feature in almost half of WA primary schools. The Crunch&Sip program in WA primary schools is a set break for students to eat fruit or vegetables and drink water in the classroom.

The Great Vegie Crunch, which is supported by the Agricultural Produce Commission and Healthway, is in its sixth year.

Schools that register for the Crunch&Sip program have access to a range of online resources to integrate vegetable and fruits literacy into their students’ education, as well as classroom giveaways such as bouncy balls, pencils and keyrings.

The Great Vegie Crunch is an important part of the Crunch&Sip program as the recent WA Health and wellbeing survey showed only one in six WA primary school aged kids are consuming the recommended daily intake of vegetables.

Cancer Council WA Schools Nutrition Coordinator Shannon Wright said: “Through the Crunch&Sip program we want to establish healthy eating habits early in children and the Great Vegie Crunch is a really fun way to educate kids.

“We know that WA kids are eating plenty of fruit but they are missing out on vital nutrients from vegetables, so the Great Vegie Crunch is a great way to show kids fun ways to consume vegies like carrots and celery.

“Consuming vegetables and fruit not only helps to improve physical and mental performance, but it promotes long term health as well.

“What better way to encourage children to eat these essential foods than participating in fun events with their mates?”

About Crunch&Sip and The Great Vegie Crunch

The Crunch&Sip program – run by Cancer Council WA - is in its 14th year and is now a daily feature in 452 WA primary schools.

Crunch&Sip is an opportunity for primary school students to eat fruit or vegetables in class, and sip water throughout the day.

To register your school for The Great Vegie Crunch and download the app, click here.