Australia’s Kitchen Garden Project

The Australian government has found a creative way to reduce childhood obesity: have students grow their own garden, and cook their produce.

A project spearheaded by culinary celebrity Stephanie Alexander, the Kitchen Garden Project is a class taught in elementary where students grow a productive vegetable garden and cook the fresh fruits of their labor in a home-style kitchen in the school grounds.

“As well as learning what 125 grams of butter is or a cup of flour, they discover how wonderful broccoli can taste when it’s stir-fried quickly and served with extra-virgin olive oil and toasted sunflower seeds that they’ve grown,” Alexander tells The Age.

The Kitchen Garden Project was so effective in introducing home-grown healthy food in positive ways to students, that the Australian government agreed to give out $12.8 million grant to 190 government primary schools to give the program a try.

“It’s a different attitude these days. The secret to a balanced, moderate, sensual appreciation of food and the pleasure of actually producing it yourself is a very powerful thing.”