A new study aimed at determining the best ways to help parents and carers provide healthy foods to their children is kicking off this month in the Tamworth, Cessnock, Taree and Forster regions.

More than 170 families have so far signed up for the ‘Feeding Healthy Foods to Kids’ program however the study team are seeking to boost this to 200 families over the next month.

Participating parents and carers have already completed initial surveys about their family’s food and eating habits, and are now receiving state of the art nutrition and parenting resources to help them healthier food choices for the children.

The resources that parents and carers will receive include an interactive DVD and self-directed learning CD, as well as general information about healthy eating for children.

Lower Mid North Coast Community Nutritionist Kerith Duncanson said that there has been a number of studies and healthy eating programs aimed at children and schools but none that have focused on parents.

“We want to know whether providing parents with easy-to-use interactive resources makes feeding their children healthy foods easier, and if using those resources changes their child’s intake of different food groups,” she said.

“This unique program will help identify if there are gaps in a parents nutritional education and skills which may lead to a better understanding of childhood health,” Ms Duncanson said.

The study will be conducted over a 12-month period.Parents of children aged two to five who may be willing to enter the study, please contact Kerith Duncanson on (02) 6555 1830 for further information. 

Contact: Tanya Carlyle, Communication Officer

Phone: (02) 49 392 602