Healthy Choices Brings Musical Reward for Students
Media Release - 20/08/2007
Saint Paul’s College in Ponsonby has won a concert on Wednesday 22 August from New Zealand hip hop stars Ill Semantics by participating in ‘Look Good Kai’ (LGK), a school canteen healthy eating promotion run by Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS).
Mason Ngawhika, health promotion practitioner at ARPHS says St Paul’s College competed against ten other Auckland schools in term two and had the highest number of students participating.
“The canteen’s healthy options, which included sandwiches, wraps, yoghurt, fruit and snacks, were chosen by 52% of students at the school,” he says.
St Paul’s College students’ will enjoy a lunchtime concert by Ill Semantics, a group that have two major album releases, an EP, and their 2006 album Good Musik was nominated for two Pacific Music Awards in 2007.
Nemesis from Ill Semantics says the whole crew is really looking forward to the gig at St Paul’s.
“I know from experience that eating healthy food makes you feel so much better, not to mention it tastes better. As a crew our ethos is about being stronger and respecting yourself and this is as much about what we put into our bodies, as how we live our lives. This is why we got involved in the ‘Look Good Kai’ programme,” he says.
‘Look Good Kai’ helps schools meet new government guidelines and extends ARPHS work with schools in the Waitemata region to remove sugary drinks from their premises and provides students with a taste for the good food in life.
Saint Paul’s College canteen staff were very keen to improve their student’s health. Mrs Murray from the canteen had already begun making her own changes to the canteen menu prior to the LGK programme and says the project is a great way for children to get the taste for food that will set them up for life.
“As a grandmother and caterer it is so important to help our children feel good and much of this is down to diet,” she says.
Look Good Kai
Students collected stickers by purchasing healthy choices from their school canteen to complete a reward card which earned them a free bottle of water, donated by Frucor. Each card went into a school draw for two Apple iPod Nanos. The school who got the most cards per head won the Ill Semantics gig.
ARPHS nutritionists helped canteen operators to identify and promote their healthy food and drinks options based on guidelines similar to those being distributed by the Ministries of Education and Health.
Ill Semantics
Ill Semantics have been together for ten years and have two major album releases and an EP. The group’s 2006 album ‘Good Musik’ was nominated for a two Pacific Music Awards in 2007. Ill Semantics are DJ CXL, MC Patriarch and Nemesis.
For further information please contact:
Mason NgawhikaHealth Promotion Practitioner
Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Ph: (09) 623 4600
Alice Redward
Public Health Dietitian
Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Ph: (09) 623 4600
Andrée Kuypers
Communications Co-ordinator
Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Ph: (09) 623 4600
Mobile: 021 938431
