The Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby, today teamed up with iconic Australian chef, Stephanie Alexander, to encourage better eating habits for Victorian primary school children. Mr Brumby announced the Bracks Government would contribute $80,000 to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, which has been running an innovative program at Collingwood College since 2001. Children across Grades 3 to 6 at the college run an extensive vegetable garden on the school grounds which provides the produce for their home economic classes.This program is about developing life-long healthier and happier eating habits in a new generation by showing them a complete meal cycle from garden to the dinner plate, Mr Brumby said. The kitchen garden gets students involved in growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing delicious and healthy food at primary school. At a time when around 30 per cent of Australian children are estimated to be overweight or obese, mainly because of poor dietary habits and inadequate levels of physical activity, this program is teaching students the benefits and joys of directly linking the garden, the kitchen and the table. Mr Brumby said the Bracks Government funding would assist the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation to expand the project to other Victorian schools. By 2008, the Foundation aims to have at least three new Kitchen Garden projects in primary schools across Victoria using the Kitchen Garden model and approach to learning integrated into the primary school curriculum, he said. Stephanie Alexander is the ideal person to deliver this project as she has already introduced several generations of Victorians to the joys of preparing and enjoying great and healthy food. This is an innovative yet practical initiative that is ensuring the next generation of Victorians learn the delights of healthy well and wisely ultimately leading to better health.