Healthy school gets gold

Nelson’s Garin College has worked hard towards, and is the proud recipient of, a Gold Heart Beat Award from the National Heart Foundation.

Their innovations include a milkshake caravan, Vietnamese nights, cooked breakfasts for students who walk to school, hot midday meals and more.

A Heart Beat Award recognises a school’s commitment to developing better nutritional practices and promotes this commitment to the wider community. Awards are judged at four levels, from Heart Beat to Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Students and classes from all disciplines and age groups at Garin College have contributed to their school’s Gold Award.

Year 10 students researched the nutritional needs of teenagers and developed a suitable menu and range of choices for the school café.

As a result the café sells no pastry products, no fried foods, no fizzy drinks or jumbo cookies. Instead, a wide variety of fresh food along with hot meals including satay chicken, lasagne and shepherd's pie are on offer.

Garin College’s Hospitality students prepare a great range of fresh gourmet sandwiches to stock the school café as part of their course.