in the classroom
Chef Colin Fassnidge ( back ) and founder Ronni Kahn ( front center ) with Ingleburn high school students after their cooking challenge . Picture : Supplied / OzHarvest
Harvest feast
Free hands-on food-waste education program for students
By Erin Morley
An anti-food waste initiative is providing curriculum-centred lesson plans , teacher training and classroom resources to schools willing to teach their students about sustainable food practices .
FEAST , a 10-week education program by food rescue organisation OzHarvest , aligns to the years five and six STEM , English and health and physical education learning areas . For high school students in years seven and eight the program addresses the food technology curriculum , teaching students how to cook healthy recipes that leave little to no food waste and curb environmental damage .
The program is also designed to develop cognitive and emotional competencies in students , through collaboration , communication , and the hands-on cooking .
FEAST also offers paid extra modules to schools , such as a kitchen kit , and access to more tools on their online portal , but says they aren ’ t essential to running the program . Financial support is also available to eligible schools .
OzHarvest has a goal to halve food waste in Australia by 2030 , which founder Ronni Kahn AO said can be achieved with the right education .
“ Young people are our future change makers – this generation is incredibly passionate about protecting our planet ,” she said .
“ FEAST helps connect the dots between food waste and climate change and shows students what they can do to make a difference , at home and at school .”
My Kitchen Rules judge and OzHarvest chef ambassador Colin Fassnidge challenged Ingleburn High School students to a cook-off in September , testing the knowledge they ’ d learned after completing their FEAST program .
“ As a chef and a dad , I believe it ’ s so important to teach young people the value of food and why we shouldn ’ t waste it ,” Mr Fassnidge said .
“ FEAST is fantastic because students can apply their knowledge by getting creative in the kitchen .”
FEAST helps connect the dots between food waste and climate change and shows students what they can do to make a difference , at home and at school
Teachers can complete professional development through an on-site training day at OzHarvest or through its online learning module .
The federal government ’ s roadmap to halving food waste by 2030 aims to make wasting food socially unacceptable through educational campaigns , but does not mention school programs in its resources for implementation .
Poor household food waste habits – which are a leading cause of food being thrown out – stem from poor knowledge of home economics and cooking skills .
This includes buying too much food that is then thrown away , coupled with a limited knowledge of how to safely repurpose or store food leftovers . ■
18 | educationreview . com . au