CAVENDISH Football Netball Club (FNC) has joined the long list of community organisations, schools, and local groups at Vic Kids Eat Well, becoming the first FNC in the Southern Grampians to participate in the program.

After joining the program three weeks ago, Cavendish FNC are setting their sights on increasing the range of healthy food choices available in their canteen.

Canteen coordinator, Trish Hurley, said a focus for this season was to increase fresh options and reduce the amount of food fried in oil by instead using the air fryer.

“We are just wanting to add some more options and for people to have choice but not just be fried food as such,” she said.

“We might add some mini pizzas, we’re going to look at more air fried food so there’s less oils and also going to work on having a special of the week which might be fried rice and meatballs  - something easily done in the oven to again reduce oils.”

Ms Hurley said while people would notice some new additions to the canteen menu, the same old crowd favourites would remain.

“Obviously, we’ve been well-known for an awesome chips and gravy which we will still have,” she said.

“There will just be a different process of cooking the chips, maybe using the air fryer, but we will still have the same great gravy.

“We will also add some fruit options, options of other healthier snacks, for example we will have some popcorn and things the kids can come in and make and sell to others such as muffins.”

Vic Kids Eat Well Southern Grampians Healthy Kids advisor, Monique Sobey, said Cavendish was the first FNC in the Southern Grampians to join the program, which was a positive step forward for the initiative locally. 

“It’s great to see it (Vic Kids Eat Well) expanding into the Football Netball Club environment and great to see someone passionate about offering those choices to the club,” she said.

“Trish has been doing some work around menu planning and adding stock to the canteen.

“For both of us it’s about delivering a variety of healthier options to the community especially where there’s children and young people, so we are allowing children and young people to have those options.

“It’s great to see Cavendish linking the benefits of sport and exercise to healthy and seasonal food being available within the canteen.”

Ms Hurley said linking healthy food and exercise was a factor for joining the program, as well as increasing conversations with children surrounding how food can impact the body.

“Obviously, sport is a strenuous activity but having a type 1 diabetic as a child - my daughter Isabel - probably my focus has more been showing other options that she can have and it be the same as the other kids,” she said.

“Even reducing the soft drinks to no sugar, and having less sugar or no sugar options, having milk drinks as a different variety.

“It has definitely been something generally more for the kids to be aware of, they’re becoming more aware as they get older of foods and the different choices and the needs of the body in terms of food.”

The Cavendish FNC canteen also offers Thursday night dinners which Ms Hurley said would also be adopting healthier options.

She said the canteen provides a great learning platform for children as they assist with making and selling products.

Ms Sobey said any other sporting clubs in the Southern Grampians interested in joining the Vic Kids Eat Well program should contact her at monique.sobey@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au.